If there was an experimental drug that would enable you to have lucid dreams, where you could control anyone and anything, would you take it? Writer-director Nacho Vigalondo poses the question to a grieving man who recently lost his girlfriend in a tragic car accident. in Danielle forever,
Vigalondo criticizes the idea of ”making all your dreams come true” by putting love and grief on the line. Creative by nature, this feature adequately blends science fiction with romantic drama to examine the importance of letting go. Because of some questionable decisions, the main messages of the film are not as effective as they could be.
Daniela Forever successfully blends sci-fi and romance
Crazy Rich Asians‘ Henry Golding stars as British DJ Nicolas, who lives in Madrid with a large group of friends. After the early morning death of his artist girlfriend, Daniela (Beatrice Grannò), he loses his zest for life completely. Awakened by the nightmares of her death, Nikolas spends his days sadly in his dirty apartment, frozen in time, trying to cling to any memory of Daniela. Even his friends, including Victoria (Natalie Poza), become concerned about his inability to move forward. To help him, Victoria recommends Nick for a clinical trial of a new drug.
Daniela Forever Seems like a decent, familiar story about loss and grief. In execution, it goes beyond the traditional mourning messages to explore lucid dreaming…
This off-the-shelf drug would enable Nick to create his dreams and control everything that happens in them. From Victoria’s perspective, this would help Nikolas free himself from his strong emotional dependence on Daniela. But Nick has other plans. His mission is to see, feel and love Daniela again, by any means necessary. Anything or anyone standing in the way of Nicholas’ goal is no friend of his.
on paper, Daniela Forever Seems like a decent, familiar story about loss and grief. In execution, it goes beyond the traditional mourning messages to explore lucid dreaming and also explore the idea of whether it is really worth it to make your dreams come true. A selection for the 3rd Sloan Science on Film Showcase, which supports bridging the two cultures of science and the humanities, Vigalondo’s latest does just that with a few glaring hiccups. When Nick first arrives at the Belgian drug company, he has handed over a contract to be thoroughly reviewed before the testing can begin.
In typical fashion, he didn’t really read it – especially with the thought of seeing Daniela again close and clear in his heart and mind. This key decision strips the script of his belief (and it needs every ounce of it). Even after witnessing that, the doctors proceed to give him a pill for observation. After waking up, Nick lies very obviously about what he saw, but the doctors don’t let it. Instead, and without further inquiry or hesitation, they send Nick on his way with a fresh pack of pills.
Daniela Forever has a solid message
Although the premise is not entirely plausible
Admittedly, this beginning lowered my excitement and expectations for the rest of Daniela Forever. Even the smart decision to use vibrant coloring for Nick’s dream state versus the drab and grainy visuals for reality felt less impressive when attention to detail wasn’t given holistically. Having said that, I found solace in Grannò’s warm performance as Daniela. Even as just a figure from Nick’s dreams, it’s easy to see why she has so many friends and why Nick loved her, as her kind nature and kind spirit take over the screen.
Even in an ideal, dream scenario, happiness is unattainable if you don’t work on yourself. In this creatively immersive viewing experience, this is the most appealing part of the film.
Things begin to take a turn for the worse when Nick continues to disobey the instructions and starts showing a dark side of himself that has begun to manifest in the thought of losing Daniela again. With Daniela’s ex-girlfriend Teresa (Aura Garrido) often coming into the picture when Daniela shows some independence, Nick’s jealousy explodes, and his controlling nature emerges. Here, Vigalondo replaces the rainbows and butterflies with the hard-hearted truth. Even in an ideal, dream scenario, happiness is unattainable if you don’t work on yourself. In this creatively immersive viewing experience, this is the most appealing part of the film.
A blended examination of medical ethics, grief and self-rediscovery, Daniela Forever is a decent film that will make you question your decisions in this scenario. Although it takes a little while to get to this point, it is worth it to see the lovely Beatrice Grannò as Daniela. Vigalondo makes some interesting decisions in the way he captures grief and the inability to let go. And while everything didn’t work out for me, there is a good message in this film about the importance of self-reflection as we take the next step to find happiness again after the loss of a loved one.
Daniela Forever Had its premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. The film is 113 minutes long and not yet rated.
A grieving man, unable to move on after his girlfriend’s sudden death, enrolls in a clinical trial that offers him the chance to recreate his life with her through lucid dreams. As the boundaries between reality and dreams blur, he confronts the emotional and psychological consequences of living in a fabricated world.
- Beatrice Grannò is warm and lovely as Daniela
- The film has a thoughtful story about grief and blends genres well
- The central premise tends to be plausible because of certain decisions.
- The film takes too long to reach this point