“I thought my ideas were so clear. I wanted to make an honest film. No lies whatsoever. I thought I had something so simple to say. Something useful to everybody. A film that could help bury forever all those dead things we carry within ourselves. Instead, I’m the one without the courage to bury anything at all. When did I go wrong? I really have nothing to say, but I want to say it all the same.”
– Guido Anselmi (Marcello Mastroianni), 8 1/2 (1963), story by Federico Fellini & Ennio Flaiano, screenplay by Ennio Flaiano & Tullio Pinelli & Federico Fellini & Brunello Rondi
I don't know why people don't use dream sequences anymore.
I always thought the beginning of Cape Fear would have been better as a dream sequence.
I try to have one in every movie( I stopped writing scripts) because it's so cinematic. You can break the rules of your world and show a lot of personality or off screen happenings.
Christian H., if done well, dream sequences can make for sublime cinema. I suspect there are a couple of reasons why they're not more prevalent in movies. First, if they're not done well, they can make for a real crash-and-burn viewing experience. Second, a lot of dream sequences don't feel at all like dreams, but rather klunky attempts by the filmmakers to make a point, advance the plot. Third, they're hard to translate as well on the script page than in a movie.
But you've inspired me. I'll be posting something later with a few classic film dream sequences from Bunuel, Bergman, and whatever else I can find.
Though obviously Fellini inspired, Woody Allen's STARDUST MEMORIES has some wonderful glimpses into the dreamlife of its main character.
And, of course, we mustn't forget the aptly titled "DREAMS" from Akira Kurusawa, in which he dramatized a dozen or so of his own dreams, committing them beautifully (and somewhat chillingly) to film.
The dream sequence in Bergman's "Wild Strawberries" springs to mind as one of the most effective dream sequences in cinema, along with the intro to 8 1/2.
And admittedly, my whole point is to inspire content creators. Many of you have inspired me.