Arizona Dream
Arizona Dream

Movie spotlight

Arizona Dream

1993
Movie
142 min
English

An Inuit hunter races his sled home with a fresh-caught halibut. This fish pervades the entire film, in real and imaginary form. Meanwhile, Axel tags fish in New York as a naturalist's gofer. He's happy there, but a messenger arrives to bring him to Arizona for his uncle's wedding. It's a ruse to get Axel into the family business. In Arizona, Axel meets two odd women: vivacious, needy, and plagued by neuroses and familial discord. He gets romantically involved with one, while the other, rich but depressed, plays accordion tunes to a gaggle of pet turtles.

Insights

IMDb6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes60%
Google Users76%
Director: Emir KusturicaGenres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

Axel Blackmar, a young New Yorker working as a fish-out-of-water during his uncle's Cadillac dealership's publicity stunt in Arizona, finds himself drawn into a bizarre love triangle. He becomes infatuated with the seductive and eccentric Elaine Stark, a woman who dreams of flying, and her troubled, suicidal stepdaughter, Lulu. As Axel navigates the surreal landscape of their lives and his own burgeoning feelings, the lines between reality and fantasy begin to blur.

Critical Reception

Arizona Dream received a mixed to positive reception from critics, with many praising its quirky charm, surreal visuals, and strong performances, particularly from Johnny Depp and Faye Dunaway. However, some found its unconventional narrative and pacing to be challenging or inconsistent. The film has garnered a cult following over time.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its unique, dreamlike atmosphere and visual style.

  • Appreciated for the captivating performances of its lead actors.

  • Criticized by some for its meandering plot and uneven tone.

Google audience: Audiences generally enjoyed the film's offbeat sense of humor and the performances, finding it to be a visually interesting and unconventional experience. Some viewers found it to be a bit too strange or slow-paced.

Awards & Accolades

Won the Golden Bear at the 43rd Berlin International Film Festival.

Fun Fact

Director Emir Kusturica stated that he was heavily influenced by the works of Federico Fellini and the surrealist painter Salvador Dalí when making the film.

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