About this Event
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, 7th House is thrilled to present a rare chance to experience a visionary landmark — and perhaps the most explicitly philosophical film ever presented by 7th House at the Philosophical Research Society — on the big screen: Richard Linklater’s dreamworld odyssey WAKING LIFE (2001).
Set within a constantly shifting hallucinatory version of Linklater’s hometown of Austin, the film follows a wandering young man — portrayed by Wiley Wiggins, the former Dazed and Confused wunderkind — as he drifts through an endless chain of cosmic conversations, philosophical rabbit holes, existential paradoxes, and lucid dream revelations. Along the way he crosses paths with artists, professors, anarchists, spiritual seekers, street eccentrics, and wandering sages portrayed by a constellation of Linklater regulars, collaborators, friends, and local Austin characters, including “Before Trilogy” duo Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, indie film compatriots Steven Soderbergh and Caveh Zahedi, philosopher/poet Timothy Levitch, and even (...gulp) Alex Jones — decades before his evolution into full-blown supervillainy, back when he was still a relatively benign local-access conspiracy kook.
Featuring the ambling, digressive spirit that defined Linklater’s breakthrough Slacker, WAKING LIFE plays like an astral plane cousin to that landmark indie classic: another wandering tapestry of conversations and encounters, only now untethered from physical reality altogether. Rendered in groundbreaking digital rotoscope animation — with live-action footage transformed frame-by-frame into shimmering, unstable dream imagery — the film turns cafes, sidewalks, bedrooms, bars, and city streets into fluid landscapes of thought and perception.
25 years after its release, Linklater’s bold experiment takes on an even deeper resonance as a portrait of that strange dawn-of-the-millennium cultural moment suspended between analog and digital reality — capturing a generation’s yearning for meaning, transcendence, and authentic connection with uncanny precision. Yet for all its heady philosophical inquiry, the film never loses its warmth, humor, melancholy, romanticism, or sense of wonder. It remains a movie equally suited for hardcore philosophy nerds, art-school insomniacs, psychedelic voyagers, and anyone who has ever stayed awake at 3AM wondering whether they were dreaming — or finally waking up.
Dir. Richard Linklater, 2001, 99 mins, USA, English, Rated R, Digital
Tickets: $12 (All Screenings Are In Person Only)
Please email [email protected] or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.
ADVISORY DISCLAIMER
With some exception, The Philosophical Research Society’s 7th House Screenings does not typically provide advisory warnings about potentially upsetting content or subject matter, as sensitivities are particular to each viewer. Please be sure to read event listings, research on the web, or visit Common Sense Media, IMDb, and DoesTheDogDie.com for thorough info on content and age-appropriateness. If you have any specific content advisory questions, please email [email protected].
CONTENT DISCLAIMER
The views, opinions, and thoughts expressed within exhibited works are solely those of their creators and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Screenings are intended for educational and entertainment purposes.
ACCESSIBILITY
PRS wants all guests to be able to enjoy our events safely and comfortably. If you require any accessibility accommodation, please reach out to [email protected] before showtime and we will be happy to assist you.
REFUND POLICIES
All sales are final. There are no refunds for PRS events , except in the event of a medical emergency, including but not limited to a positive COVID-19 test. Ticket exchanges may be granted on a case by case basis, pending circumstances.
In the event that PRS is forced to cancel an event entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers offered for a rescheduled event.
PARKING
Limited parking is available onsite at PRS in both the front lot (entry from Los Feliz Blvd. when heading east), as well as street parking on Griffith Park Blvd. and (after 7 PM) on Los Feliz Blvd. We encourage attendees to consider carpooling, walking or biking to events if possible, and please be considerate of our Los Feliz neighbors when parking.
PRS EVENT POLICIES
- We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
- Events are subject to change without notice, including guest speakers and/or performers.
- We encourage you to arrive at least 30 min. before the scheduled event start time to find parking, enjoy the Bookstore and take your seats.
- Please turn off all mobile devices before the show. Talking and texting are not allowed during the events.
- No filming, audio recording or mobile phone recording of events, screenings, concerts or other programs by audience members is allowed without permission.
- There is no smoking permitted on PRS grounds.
- We strongly encourage guests to wear masks to PRS events to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
- PRS allows Service Animals into the facility under ADA and state guidelines. For further details please visit www.ADA.gov. No animals permitted whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support, under ADA guidelines and CA Health Code.
- Please do not bring outside food or drink into PRS events.
- Weapons are strictly prohibited at PRS events.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Philosophical Research Society, 3910 Los Feliz Boulevard, Los Angeles, United States
USD 14.64
