SLEEPWALKER
2017, 86 minutes, Colour.
Arne O'Reilly, Richard Armitage, Isabella School, Rachel Melvin, Kevin Segars, Haley Joel Osmond, Jessica Luo.
Directed by Elliot Lester.
Sleepwalker is something of a psychological case as well as a mindbending film.
We see that the central character, Sarah, sleep walks and there is concern by her roommate. However, the problem with the screenplay is the ambiguity of Sarah, even ambiguity and confusion about her surname.
We see her in various aspects of the narrative but we are not sure what is real, what is the imagined. There is also a scene of the suicide of her husband – and then a range of ambiguities about her relationship with the man and his lover. She is helped by a psychologist then claims not to know her and is treated by doctor who falls in love with her.
What is in her mind? What is happening in reality? What is the truth about Sarah?
1. The title? A psychological case? Thriller? Dreams? Who did the murder?
2. The American city, apartments, streets, hospitals and corridors, the musical score?
3. A psychological case, a mindbending film? What was real, unreal? Sarah and her two names, the identity? A sleepwalking, witnessing the death of her husband, later the husband’s lover? The encounters with the psychologist, her claiming not to know her? Dr Scott White, seeing him at the funeral, confiding in her friend, her accommodation? Meeting the doctor at the University Centre, his caring for her, the relationship, the continuing mystery?
4. Sarah, at home, with her friend, the discussions, the accommodation? Her bewilderment? Waking up? Or asleep?
5. The doctor, at the funeral, the attraction, his help and concern? The psychologist and the meeting, claiming not to know Sarah?
6. The further complications, the different identities, the alternate Sarah, the alternate Dr White? The staff at the hospital centre? The doctor? The orderly, the attempt to smother Sarah?
7. Sarah in coma? The activity in her brain? The confused memories?
8. Sarah’s story, her relationship with the writer, signing autographs for him, her shooting him, attempting to shoot herself, the complications in her mind, memory, confusion?
