WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
WATCH THE FILM HERE
First, the Recap:
What lies in the recesses of a fractured mind? On the surface, all might appear in a state of relative calm, yet within is a storm of unsettledness we would be more prone to push down rather than confront. But in doing so, does this somehow bring us any sense of true peace? Or, is it only a catalyst, a precursor to having to face that which lives within us, brought to the light by our choices, by our very existence? In an undisclosed future time, Dale (Ellyn Jameson) works as a living wake-up caller for a series of individuals that comprise her assigned route each day. Quietly but evidently fighting her own internal battles, the visit to a particular client named Bradley (Paul Archer) while assisting on a fellow wake-up caller’s route shakes her to the core as his recounting of restless sleep and nightmares turns into an unanticipated harbinger of self-realization.
Next, my Mind:
A dark, brooding foray into the realities of being an imperfect being while showcasing how we’re confronted with this through interaction with others just as broken as we are, make no mistake that this 11-minute indie short film from writer/director/producer/editor Gabriel Caste and producers Lauren Altieri Caste and Alex Exline is fully meant to weigh on your conscience with what this critic felt was its own moody twist on the Orwellian concept of “Big Brother is watching you” while also addressing our own penchant to not only at times question our sanity, but also potentially encounter the personal demons within. The film is about to have another day in the sun via screening at the upcoming 2023 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and I would very much like to believe it will make a splash for its intelligently engaging execution that both jars you yet might wholly make you take an inward-focused account of YOUR individual state of being.
A total exercise in exploring cognitive dissonance, the narrative follows what we can only surmise COULD be some form of dystopian society where even your sleep and awakened states are actually monitored and tracked (again, echoes of a “Nineteen Eighty-Four”-esque atmosphere anyone?), the young woman who acts as one of its many “wake-up callers”, and the stress she herself is experiencing that gets heightened upon encountering a subject while covering a route for another worker. The aura of disturbed unease that is created is a palpable force, but yet not to a magnitude that feels forced or overdone FOR the sake of the intended ambiance. Rather, the pacing and evocative imagery merge together to truly manifest a solidly presented thriller/sci-fi amalgamation that, again, delves into those places in our heads we don’t often (or EVER!) wish to go while making it clear that, ultimately, you cannot escape what’s already inside you or here even be SURE what actuality really IS, leading to a mind-bending, reality-warping finale that’s quite satisfying while at the same time eerily enigmatic.
In the wake of the recent world-wide pandemic and the accompanying fearmongering that was certainly perpetrated during its course, the awareness and addressing of mental health became an even more serious and necessary element to take into account, and this film assuredly addresses thematic tangents spanning from depressive states of existence and the associated anxiety to the frighteningly relevant ideas of forced governmental oversight and the designed distrust of others which also tied ties itself to feeling like we’ve had to contractually give ourselves over to it all rather than take control of our own lives. What makes all of this being looked at in this film more unique to this critic was the fact that it’s all wrapped neatly into an “Inception”-like environment that only makes the film more ominously realistic on several levels while delivering a sobering message about facing a highly disrupted frame of mind and prodding us to take better care of ourselves and others IN a more rational way instead of internalizing the chaos we ALL have.
As with so many indie films, it is often “first chances” for this critic to see a majority of the actors involved in each project, which I feel is refreshing and fun when it paints a vivid picture of the acting talent that resides within this realm of cinema. Here is no exception starting with Jameson in her role as Dale, a woman who, while being steadfast and committed to a job that honestly appears could more than wear on someone’s mind and soul to begin with, also bears the undeniably present discomfort and weariness of her own inner turmoil. Even as she makes her normal rounds, the routine gets somewhat upended upon being called upon to assist with “clients” of another wake-up caller, sending her to one man’s home whose own state of disconcert sends Dale on a harrowing trip that strangely (or perhaps not?) mirrors his. Watching Jameson guide the character through the frenetic cerebral battleground she endures and is conflicted by is tangibly impactful and exudes the restless volatility being portrayed with raw emotional strength and believability throughout.
Primary supporting roles arrive first via Archer as Bradley, the off-normal-route client Dale visits and discovers is resistant to come into a totally “awake” status after which he begins to expound on nightmares he’s been having that cause question to precisely what reality is or is not for him–but also for her. It’s an understated AND impassioned performance Archer provides, infusing the character with the necessary degrees of irrationality that befits the circumstances depicted. John Wilcox and Begine White-Klein appear as Fourteen and Bedhead respectively, the former being one of Dale’s normal clients and the latter one of her co-worker’s other visits she covers, both of whom seem very–off–themselves, which is more subtle than overtly blatant, yet conspicuous, and the two actors very solidly convey the disquieted mentalities the characters possess. Finally, Caste steps out from behind the camera to play Dale’s co-worker Herminio, who arrives on the scene during one of the film’s more pivotal moments in the scope of the narrative’s course.
Additional appearances are made from Charles Noland, Kelley Poling, Dan Johnson (voice only), Tevin Harris, Tien Vu, Syd Kilroy, and Martin Lino. So, in total, “Are You Awake?” is a well-executed and designed, edgy, tense, yet affecting journey into the altered, splintered, turbulent arena of the human mind, presented in a manner that is as fantastical in its undercurrents as it is wholly feasible in its messages about mental health and the realization we all must come to terms with, whether we like it or not–we’re all in some state of upheaval, even if only in our own heads. Basically, folks, it’s time to WAKE UP, truly manage what attempts to manage us, and find the inner liberation we desire and deserve.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
