Coluna Claquete – November, 11th 2011
Session Movie of the Week: “Dream House”
Perhaps many of you have already heard of some event related to the supernatural, cases that are known as communication with spirits of deceased people. Although most of them are only just a “case” that one tells and retells, some might even raise questions. To the scientists, psychologists and psychiatrists, this story of talking with the dead is just a sign that the person has a mental problem. It is with this approach that the theme is discussed in “Dream House”.
At the beginning of the film we found Will Atenton (Daniel Craig), a successful editor in Manhattan who goes against the will of the majority of current workers. He decides to quit his job to devote himself to writing a book, and to have more time with his wife Libby (Rachel Weisz) and their two daughters in a house into an elegant and quiet suburb of New England.
Everything seems to go wonderfully well for the family, but they begin to realize they are being watched by a strange man. When investigating further, Will discovers that his house was the scene of a crime, five years before, and that the main suspect had been released from a psychiatric hospital for lack of evidence.
The strange thing is that nobody, not even the police seems to be interested in the case. To complete, the city’s teenagers invade the basement of Will, writing messages on the walls and making bizarre ceremonies.
As the disturbances continue to endanger the peace of his family, Will decides to investigate on his own. Terrified, he finds a picture of his family in the room that was used by Peter Ward, the man whose family was murdered and that was the main suspect.
A person seems to know anything that can help him. Ann Patterson (Naomi Watts), his front neighbor, knew the family of the tragedy, and was at home the night of the crime. But like everyone else, she seems reluctant to reveal anything more to Will.
When Will decides to visit the psychiatric institution where Peter Ward had been imprisoned for five years, he receives a startling revelation, that he and the man who is looking for are the same person and that everything he thinks is his life, is only an illusion created by his mind.
The consequences that will arise from this are confusing, and involve far beyond the murdered family. The events rush, and a new tragedy seems to be on track to be repeated.
This film provides an interesting discussion on the communication with the dead, that both should interest to people who studies the spiritual doctrine, and those who deal with psychological issues. In History, it has always been considered madness the fact of “hearing voices”. On the other hand, there are many reports of experiences that can only be explained through spiritualism.
How can we find out what is one thing or another? If Will could see, touch and talk to his dead wife, it was a paranormal experience or simply a manifestation of insanity, a creation of a suffering mind, which creates mechanisms to protect from loss or guilt?
“Dream House” had many problems during filming, due to disagreements between the director Jim Sheridan and Morgan Creek boss, Jim Robinson.When Sheridan wanted to redo some scenes that were not well accepted in the test sessions, the studio simply took the film and edited the way they wanted, prompting thSheridan to ask them to remove your name from the credits.
These disagreements were reflected out of the film sets, because the box office was barely $ 21 million for a cost of production of 55 million dollars. Actors Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz also supported the director, refusing to participate in the promotion of the film.
Even with the impression of being part of the mystery revealed too early, “Dream House” is an interesting movie, to bring themes already explored in a very different point of view. It is not a movie for the general public, but for those who like to think a little more on what’s on screen. Check it out.