The Good Night

The Good Night

Year: 2007

Runtime: 93 min

Language: English

Director: Jake Paltrow

DramaFantasyComedyRomance

Gary, a struggling musician whose career and relationship have stalled, feels increasingly overshadowed by his successful best friend. His life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Anna, a woman he falls for in his dreams. Their connection exists only in his sleep, prompting Gary to seek a way to deepen his slumber and pursue this ethereal romance. He enlists the guidance of a new age guru in a quest to bridge the gap between his dreams and reality.

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Timeline & Setting – The Good Night (2007)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Good Night (2007). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The film reflects a contemporary setting, showcasing the struggle with modern life's pressures and the quest for fulfillment. It portrays the psychological impact of living in a perfection-obsessed culture, with characters who grapple with their identities and relationships in this fast-paced world.

Location

Gary's Apartment, Dreamscapes

Gary's Apartment serves as a sanctuary where he isolates himself from the challenges of reality. It symbolizes his retreat into an imaginary world that provides him solace from his mundane life. The dreamscapes represent the fantastical elements of his mind, filled with vibrant imagery and characters, particularly Anna, who draw him away from the struggles of his waking existence.

🏙️ Urban 🌌 Fantasy

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:24

Main Characters – The Good Night (2007)

Meet the key characters of The Good Night (2007), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Gary Shaller (Martin Freeman)

Gary is a struggling musician grappling with a sense of purposelessness after his band disbanded. He becomes increasingly consumed by his obsession with a dream woman, Anna, which leads him to neglect his real-world relationships and responsibilities. His journey reflects the inner turmoil of a man caught between two worlds and the consequences of chasing illusions.

🎸 Musician 🌀 Obsessive 🌌 Dreamer

Dora (Gwyneth Paltrow)

Dora represents the emotional anchor in Gary's life. She struggles with the growing distance between them as Gary immerses himself in his fantasies. Her character reflects the challenges of love and connection amidst distractions and personal struggles, ultimately embodying the pain of neglected relationships.

❤️ Love 😔 Supportive 💔 Heartbroken

Anna (Penélope Cruz)

Anna is the embodiment of Gary's desires and fantasies, captivating him in both his dreams and reality. However, she also serves as a mirror to his own discontent, highlighting the dangers of idealization. Her character challenges Gary to confront the differences between dreaming and living, making her a crucial catalyst in his journey.

🌹 Enchanting 🌌 Dreamlike 💫 Idealized

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:24

Major Themes – The Good Night (2007)

Explore the central themes of The Good Night (2007), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌀 Obsession

Gary's overwhelming fixation on achieving perfection and his desire for a flawless dream life with Anna illustrate the dangers of obsession. This relentless pursuit not only alienates him from reality but also strains his relationship with Dora. The film poignantly explores how such an obsession can lead to isolation and ultimately, despair.

💔 Heartbreak

The contrast between Gary's idealized fantasies of Anna and the harsh reality of their encounter captures the theme of heartbreak. As he discovers the truth about his desires, he faces significant emotional turmoil. This theme highlights the complexity of love and the pain of unmet expectations.

🌙 Dream vs. Reality

The interplay between dreams and reality is central to the story, exploring how one man's longing for escape can lead to a blurred line between the two. Gary's journey into lucid dreaming opens up discussions about escapism and the impact it has on one’s relationships and mental well-being, culminating in his eventual retreat into a dream that leaves his real life behind.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:24

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about dreamy escapism like The Good Night

Characters who retreat into idealized dreams, blurring the line between fantasy and reality.If you liked 'The Good Night' for its exploration of dream worlds as an escape, you'll find similar stories here. This list features movies where characters, often facing a midlife crisis or artistic block, become consumed by a fantasy life, leading to bittersweet consequences. Discover films that blend fantasy, drama, and melancholy with themes of idealization vs. reality.

dreamlikemelancholicyearningintrospectivedisconnectedescapistbittersweetatmospheric

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow a protagonist who feels trapped or unfulfilled in their waking life. They discover or create an alternative reality—be it through lucid dreaming, imagination, or a hidden world—that offers everything they lack. The central conflict arises as their obsession with this perfect escape grows, forcing a choice or leading to a collapse between the two worlds, often with a poignant or ambiguous outcome.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on the psychological allure of escapism and the bittersweet tension between a disappointing reality and an idealized fantasy. They share a dreamlike mood, a melancholic tone, and a narrative that prioritizes internal, emotional conflict over external action.

Movies about midlife melancholy like The Good Night

Slow, character-driven portraits of dissatisfaction and quiet existential crises.For viewers who appreciated the melancholic and introspective portrayal of midlife crisis in 'The Good Night,' this section gathers similar character studies. These films explore themes of artistic block, relationship dissatisfaction, and the yearning for meaning, all delivered with a slow, thoughtful pace and a medium emotional weight. Find poignant dramas about the quiet struggles of adulthood.

melancholicintrospectivedissatisfactionyearninglonelyquietcontemplativebittersweet

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around a protagonist in the midst of a quiet, internal crisis. There is rarely a major external event; instead, the story unfolds through their growing awareness of their own dissatisfaction and compromises. The journey is one of introspection, as they grapple with unmet expectations and the gap between their youthful ideals and their current reality, often without a clear or happy resolution.

Why These Movies?

These movies are connected by their shared mood of melancholy and yearning, their slow pacing that emphasizes character reflection, and their central theme of midlife discontent. They offer a similar vibe of quiet despair and emotional realism, appealing to viewers seeking thoughtful, character-centric dramas.

Unlock the Full Story of The Good Night

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Good Night in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Good Night is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Good Night Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Good Night, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Good Night Summary

The Good Night Timeline

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The Good Night Timeline

The Good Night Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Good Night that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Good Night Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Good Night

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Good Night: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Good Night

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