Dreams Rewired (2015)

"Dreams Rewired" is a cinematic odyssey that journeys back in time to the dawn of the modern age, a time when the world was on the brink of unprecedented technological advancement. Through a tapestry of nearly 200 films, spanning from the 1880s to the 1930s, this documentary explores the birth of the telephone, television, and cinema, tracing the roots of our contemporary, hyper-connected world to the electric media boom of the late 19th century. The film presents an era as revolutionary as our own, filled with both the hopes of utopia and the fears of privacy erosion and ubiquitous surveillance. Back then, electric media sparked a utopian vision in the public's imagination, promising to annihilate distance, end wars, and fortify human relationships. It painted a picture of a new world where technology serves all, not just the elites, where efficiency is king, and the future could be predicted. However, "Dreams Rewired" also delves into the disparity between what these media initially promised and what was eventually delivered. The early radical openness was meticulously disciplined and regulated, transforming two-way communication into hierarchical broadcasting. The fears that were once mere whispers became stark realities, with privacy eroded, surveillance pervasive, and financial and moral hazards becoming more than just theoretical. Tilda Swinton's voice, imbued with contemporary predicament, weaves a commentary that does not submerge the audience in the past, but rather, pulls historical materials into the present. This film bridges the gap between today's audience and their idealistic counterparts from a century ago, suggesting a path of positive action towards a 21st-century conception of openness. "Dreams Rewired" is an astonishingly prescient documentary that is as hilarious as it is revelatory, as aesthetically striking as it is informative. By tracing the echoes of our digital age back to its origins, it offers a unique perspective on our postmodern, post-industrial world, inviting viewers to reflect on the universal human desires and anxieties that transcend time and technology.

Dreams Rewired is a documentary movie featuring Tilda Swinton and directed by Manu Luksch.

Dreams Rewired is currently streaming on OVID.