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Somnioverus
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The somnioverus technique is a technique which does not differentiate between dream sequences and reality. Somnioverus Film Technique The somnioverus technique (from Latin: Somnius "dream" and verus, "reality") is a film (scenario) technique through which the viewer is not able to differentiate between reality and fantasy within the confines of the story. One such examples is the popular blockbuster movie Inception directer by Christopher Nolan which the viewer is continually left in the dark as to the nature of the timeline they occupy. It is thereby not clear whether or not the shown images are part of the reality of the protagonist or part of an elaborate fantasy world created by the protagonist. One other use of the somnioverus technique is the oscillation between reality and fantasy through which certain 'real' aspects of the story are played out in a fantasy world. One of such cases is the film Suckerpunch by Zack Snyder in which certain 'real' missions are played out in extravagant fantasy worlds with excessive amounts of violence and action. Real events are recreated and re-imageined by the protagonist in a more fantasic setting, but has a clear connection with the events transpiring in the 'real' world of the protagonist. Although Somnioverus is usually used in dramatic film scenarios to indicate the unstable psychological state of the protagonist whom the viewer is encouraged to associate with. However, there are numeral examples of movies where this technique is used in non-dramatic genres. History The somnioverus film technique is derived from popular film theory based on Berthold Brecht and is widely used in modern film. Although this does not mean that the technique has not been used in a variety of films and other tv-productions in the past. However, the name of this technique was coined only one decade ago in the late 90's. Since the conceptualization of this technique, it has continually grown in ubiquity in blockbuster cinema productions. Similar to Brecht, Tom Gunning highlights this technique in several chapters as he explains how reality and fantasy are increasingly intertwined. In his article "Moving Away from the Index: Cinema and the Impression of Reality" he describes how modern day film theory more and more focussed on whipping out the reality from under the viewer. Through it, film theory describes how association by viewers is accomplished by letting the viewers in on a 'underlying' scenario structure. Where is it used? Inception (Directed by Christopher Nolan) 2010: In inception it is made unclear to the viewer in which reality Cobb (the protagonist) is in. It is even unclear to Cobb himself as to which reality is actually real. Which is why he is continually using his ´totem´ to redefine his reality. Sucker Punch (Directed by Zack Snyder) 2011: In this movie, the girl ´babydoll´ shifts between the real and the fantasy world with her friends in order to complete certain plans. Once again, the fantasy world is merely a fictional portrayal of the ´real´ world. Shutter Island (Directed by Martin Scorsese) 2010: This movie is completely shot through the eyes of the protagonist Teddy Daniels. It is not made clear to the viewer that the entire movie is based within the paranoia fantasy world of Teddy. The fantasy of the protagonist is constantly shown as if it were 'real', while the viewer is actually being fooled along with the Teddy who is fooling himself into thinking he is a detective. Mulholland Drive (Directed by David Lynch) 2001: In this movie, the story is constantly oscillating between fantasy and reality in such a way that is no longer clear what defines reality and what actually transpires. Similar notes can be made on the movie by the same Director Inland Empire. The Game (Directed by David Fincher) 1997: The somnioverus technique is also used in the movie "The game" with Michael Dougles in which live-action fantasy consumes his real life. Existenz (Directed by David Cronenberg) 1999 The Thirteenth Floor (Directed by Josef Rusnak) 1999 Invaders from Mars (Directed by William Cameron Menzies) 1953 Jacob's Ladder (Directed by Adrian Lyne) 1990 Labyrinth (Directed by Jim Henson) 1986 Alice in Wonderland (Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson) 1951 
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