What Dreams May Come
dir. Vincent Ward · 1998
Feature
Redemption
Mood
Melancholic / Romantic
Look
surreal and painterly, with vivid colors and dreamlike imagery
Structure
linear with dreamlike interludes
Plot
Chris Nielsen dies to find himself in a heaven more amazing than he could have ever dreamed of. There is one thing missing: his wife. After he died, his wife Annie killed herself and went to hell. Chris decides to risk eternity in Hades for the small chance that he will be able to bring her back to heaven.
Why watch
"What Dreams May Come" is a visually stunning exploration of love's endurance beyond death, where vibrant afterlife landscapes serve as a backdrop for a poignant journey through grief and redemption. This film invites viewers to reflect on the depths of devotion and the cost of despair, making it a unique cinematic experience.
Talking points
- the nature of love and loss
- the portrayal of the afterlife in cinema
- mental health and suicide
- the visual representation of grief
Cultural context
exploration of grief and mental healththe intersection of spirituality and lovesocietal views on suicide and redemptionthe late 90s fascination with metaphysical themes