Waking the Dead

Do you remember Keith Gordon? As a young actor he carved a nice little niche in the 80s in such films as Dressed to Kill, Christine, The Legend of Billie Jean and Back to School. Around 1988, Gordon decided to quit acting to pursue directing. His resume behind the camera is an impressive list that includes The Chocolate War, A Midnight Clear, Mother Night and the sadly overlooked Waking the Dead. Relegated to TV projects since 2003, here’s hoping the skilled Gordon returns to the big screen soon.

In 1973, Fielding Pierce’s girlfriend Sarah is killed by a car bomb while assisting the Chilean resistance. The idealistic Sarah was devoted to fighting injustice which clashed with Fielding’s conservative views. Despite differences, Sarah was Fielding’s great love and dealing with her sudden death proves difficult. Nine years later, during a Congressional campaign, Fielding is haunted by memories and visions of Sarah, who may or may not be alive. Through a series of flashbacks Fielding and Sarah’s tempestuous relationship comes into full view, revealing the powerful hold that Sarah maintains on Fielding.

As the race for a Congressional seat tightens, Fielding’s sanity begins to erode. Voices in the night, strange sightings, and puzzling phone calls strengthen Fielding’s belief that Sarah has returned from the dead. Friends and family dismiss his erratic behavior in an effort to help him focus on achieving his dream. However, Fielding’s obsession for Sarah consumes his every thought, threatening his run for Congress. Is Sarah’s presence a reality, or does her appearance serve as a subconscious reminder to Fielding not to lose his morals on his climb up the political ladder? It is a mystery not easily solved.

Waking the Dead1

Gordon’s gloomy style is perfect for this dark, intricate story. Deftly weaving the plot between 1973 and 1982, the film disallows any level of comfortability. It’s apparent that Fielding is losing his mind, but we’re never quite certain if Sarah is real or not. Billy Crudup as Fielding and Jennifer Connelly as Sarah are both convincing in their performances. Accepting their nuanced relationship is the key to understanding Waking the Dead. From heated debates to moments of passion, Fielding and Sarah keep the intriguing story conjoined. Waking the Dead is perhaps Gordon’s best film yet, so if you like it check out some of his other movies.

A scene from Waking the Dead: