2022 CAMDEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
Where do we go when we fall asleep? Are we transported to a dream world, a place of fantasy or ecstasy? Or do we find ourselves in a nightmare, struggling to survive? What about if we can’t fall asleep, what happens to us then? Do we dream just the same as we stare into the darkness, or do we find ourselves completely cut off from that dream world? Does losing sleep affect our health in the short term…in the long term? Can we assume that a Life Without Dreams isn’t one worth living? And what can cause us to lose sleep? Director Jessica Bardsley answers these questions and more in Life Without Dreams.
The subject of this film resonates with me so much. Life Without Dreams does more than tell us about not having dreams, it dives into why we suffer from insomnia and the issues that not getting enough sleep can cause. I wake up every morning at 4am, and I wake up exhausted, but the reality is that I have numerous things that need to get done–and that’s my chance to take control of the obstacles in my life and be productive. As I navigated this heavy documentary I found myself looking inward, examining my own daily routines and my own habits, and I questioned whether or not what I am doing is healthy. Life Without Dreams isn’t just a film with a deeper meaning, it is a scientific film that begs viewers to question themselves, their realities, and determine how to better who and what they are in a very real way–not just in an existential way. It speaks the truth about health concerns regarding our sleep habits–and, in many ways, it appears that Bardsley simply wants to help the world be healthier and happier.
Life Without Dreams is scary, because it warns me that my habits are poor–and that my life, unfortunately, will be shorter than I hope. This film is eye-opening, and it does a wonderful job of playing on the fears of viewers–never relenting.
Life Without Dreams exists within a strange setting, outer space. While much of the film allows viewers to look at themselves, having the film appear to exist in outer space creates this sense of all-knowing. As viewers seem to float throughout the cosmos, they are able to look down upon the earth and the moon, seeing these massive things as a whole–allowing those viewers to view themselves as being able to understand all that is occurring. Viewers feel larger than life, and that invites them into this short documentary.
It feels as if Life Without Dreams is a documentary born out of love. Not necessarily love for the film itself, or even for its content, but love for all people. It touches on a series of issues that we all face each and every day–and it ensures that we all feel connected through the struggles presented throughout the film. It’s warming and welcoming to know that Bardsley cares about her viewers, cares about others in general–and it’s incredible to know that she is doing her part to make sure that we all live a happy and healthy life.
Everything about the film speaks to viewers, but it’s Bardsley’s passion for the rest of the world that speaks to us the most. We feel important, wanted, seen–and her ability to translate her passion to a moving, truly touching documentary is impressive. Life Without Dreams never fails to amaze, enlighten, or educate–it’s found its place in cinema, and it teaches the world not just the value of a good night's sleep, but of self care in general. Life Without Dreams is a simple but unique way to analyze insomnia and its effects, and it transports viewers to a new world, in a way that is sure to entertain.
Directed by Jessica Bardsley.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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