Like a lot of good idea movies, Waking starts with too much exposition. After some requisite over-explaining the story gathers and we are in their world of fantasy longing. It's a well made film by talented well-meaning people. Naive, yes but they wear it on their sleeve. The premise is that a young man at life's crossroads is "haunted" by a girl he meets once. The question he and we ask is, " is she real?". And, if so, "is she going thru the same thing?" Like a set-piece in the story itself, the film is a long walk to it's natural and charming destination but in some places it feels like it has "hitched a ride" on convention and forces it's semi-preposterous nature to be judged by an audience that was willing to let it slide because, after all, we want to believe!
This kind of film can be much more visual and less talky: see "Upstream Color." This is a kind film made by kind and talented people. If it presented it's story in a more shaded and withheld way, it may have made for an interesting release. As it is, it is a fine first film and kudos for the Actor/Producers for seeing it thru.
It's a tough market out there, for indie films that are meant to be feel-goods. In the right hands, it deserves a run on Cable. Reviewed at Dances With Films, 2013, Hollywood.
