Sunday, September 15, 2024

What does the “Eyes Wide Shut” movie is about?.

 *"Eyes Wide Shut"* (1999) is a psychological drama and erotic mystery directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on Arthur Schnitzler’s novella *Traumnovelle* (Dream Story). The film delves into themes of sexual desire, jealousy, and the nature of marriage, set against the backdrop of a surreal and dream-like journey.

Photo of the movie eye wide shut


### Plot Summary:

The story follows **Dr. Bill Harford** (played by Tom Cruise), a wealthy New York physician, and his wife **Alice** (played by Nicole Kidman). The couple seems to live a glamorous life, but one evening, after attending a lavish party, their relationship is put to the test.


Alice confesses to Bill that she once had a fleeting but intense fantasy about another man, which deeply disturbs him. Obsessed with the idea of his wife’s potential infidelity, Bill embarks on a nocturnal odyssey through the streets of New York. His journey takes him through a series of increasingly strange and erotic experiences, culminating in his discovery of a secret, elite society.


Bill stumbles upon a mysterious mansion where a masked orgy is taking place, and after infiltrating the ceremony, he is exposed and threatened. From this point on, Bill becomes entangled in a web of secrecy and danger, unsure whether the events he has witnessed are real or part of a larger conspiracy.


### Themes:

- **Jealousy and Sexual Desire**: The film explores the psychological impact of jealousy within a marriage, especially as Bill is driven to irrational thoughts by Alice’s confession of her fantasies.

- **Dream vs. Reality**: Kubrick blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, with much of the film playing out like a dream. Bill’s journey often feels surreal, and the audience is left questioning how much of it is real.

- **Power and Secrecy**: The secret society Bill encounters represents a powerful, unseen world, suggesting themes of control and manipulation by the elite.

  

### Tone and Style:

Kubrick uses long, deliberate takes, haunting music, and surreal visuals to create a dreamlike atmosphere, making the audience feel disoriented and unsure of what’s real. The film is slow-paced, with a heavy emphasis on mood and psychological tension rather than action.


### Conclusion:

In the end, Bill confesses his entire journey to Alice, who suggests that they both accept their fantasies as part of human nature but remain faithful to their marriage. The film closes on an ambiguous note, with Alice suggesting that the only way forward is to be together and move past their anxieties, concluding with the final word, "f***."


*Eyes Wide Shut* is an intricate meditation on marriage, fidelity, and the darker side of human desire. Its ambiguous and dreamlike qualities have made it a subject of analysis and debate, especially given that it was Kubrick’s final film.

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