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The primary rule for writing and for
basically doing anything is: Stick to what you know. Most times it’s a
rule that can lead to success, and sometimes it’s not such a hard and
fast principle. What Berliner, as a filmmaker knew best, was insomnia.
He knew that he couldn’t sleep at all, regardless of what he did. But
“Wide Awake” is an incredibly relevant documentary, as it’s now true
that most Americans have utter difficulty sleeping at night, thanks to
the world around them. The causes for insomnia are numerous these days,
and Berliner, with his entertaining and insightful documentary, decides
to put a stop to it once for all by examining the causes.
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As a sufferer of insomnia (my
record is 56 hours), and a wacky biological clock, “Wide
Awake” was a very involving documentary for me, as Berliner
basically reflects what I’ve experienced for utter years,
including the horrible habit of having a song loop over and
over in your head to where it keeps you awake. Poor Alan
Berliner is a man whose own insomnia has become so severe
it’s begin to interfere with his personal life. The life he
leads with his wife and his beautiful son is all in jeopardy
thanks to his inability to garner a good night’s sleep. |
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“I can’t go on like this anymore,” his wife
confesses into a camera with a sign of guilt, but Berliner is hard
pressed to solve his problems, and in the process gives the viewer an
insight into their own sleeping problems. Berliner makes many allusions
to his possible sleep depravation, and interestingly enough, none are
ever the actual answer. Berliner’s discovery of the possible sources
that led to his difficulty sleeping is an awfully interesting journey,
and he brings the viewers into his mind, and keeps them into his
constant state of restlessness, and even goes through the trials. He
talks with many different doctors, opens up his life and demons, and
even tries coffee which gives him a jolt only for a certain time before
he’s right back down to where he was hours before. Berliner never
actually provides closure, because he’s still trying to conquer this
monster that’s taken over his life, and that makes the film all the more
compelling to watch.
“Wide Awake” provides some interesting facts
about sleep deprivation and the way our biological clock is fixed to the
sun light, and how sometimes it’s not always one thing in particular
that causes sleep deprivation, but a combination. And Berliner provides
an intriguing glimpse into the affliction of insomnia.
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