MovieChat Forums > The Lathe of Heaven (1980) Discussion > Ok am i alone in thinking this??? semi-s...

Ok am i alone in thinking this??? semi-spoiler

posted 18 years ago by Gambit8234
3 replies | jump to latest

I've been digging around, it seems like the Ursula le Guin novel doesnt really have this interpretation, but after watching the movie for a second time, I can't help but feel that George, and everyone in the world is dead. He is alone in his own heaven, and everything is an extension of himself.
This would explain the title perfectly, being the person who dictates your own heaven. George was confused and his thoughts were muddled thats why Portland was such a hell-hole. The Aliens may or may not be seen as God telling him: the ability to accept what you know and not try to dig too deep is a gift. Haber represents the side of George that is power hungry and wants answers, and Heather is the side of him that is just telling him to be happy and live with what he wants, which he eventually does... I mean, the world ended, that's why he says to Haber: you saw what happened after April, didnt you? The only descrepency being: aunt Ethel, that just wouldn't fit the theory.

[–] Owlwise (1536) 4 years ago

I don't think that's the case here & I don't see it at all, but if it works for you, that's fine. Personally, I see the film as being more about a Taoist view of existence, the danger of good intentions that may be driven by less-than-good unconscious forces, an exploration of psyche & dreams, to mention just a few things.

[–] brux (14778) 4 years ago

OK, I am probably not much help here, but when this book came out I was on a Science Fiction jag and had read "The Left Hand of Darkness" and this book. The movie came out and I remember liking it, maybe 7/10, but today I don't remember a thing about it. Why only guess would be that the cynical and commercial era of making movies that were individually interpretable had not come at this point, so I tend to doubt your interpretation is actually meant to be or describe the movie.

20 years later movies are regularly made that allow people to see whatever they hell they want in a movie, and to make dialog mushy so people miss stuff or complex plot tricks or Easter Eggs ... they do anything they can to sell more tickets to more people more times.

[–] Owlwise (1536) 3 years ago

Just came across your comment & I like it. Agree that LeGuin had definite ideas in mind, and the PBS shoestring production did a fine job of bringing her story to life with those ideas intact. Far more so than any multi-million dollar contemporary movie crammed with CGI in place of ideas could ever hope to do.