I realize that talking about this film is a departure from my theme this month. That is, the theme of 4 i’s (independent, innovative, inconsistent, and in-compassing a lifetime). What Dreams May Come is probably not an independent film, but it is quite innovative, quite inconsistent, and it does encompass a life. And yes, the only reason why I’m reviewing this film now is due to the death of Robin Williams this week. I’m going to warn you that there will be spoilers, as well as a lot of deep thought. Considering that we have been flooded with Robin Williams all week, this might either bring hope or just review what you already know.

The story begins with the death of Robin Williams’ character, Chris Nielsen. I realize this sounds awful in the light of what has happened this week. However, if you have known anyone who has passed away, then you how much that death hurts. In the case of this film, you really feel it. In fact, it has one of the possibly most truthful death scenes that I have ever seen put on film. In the film, Chris is involved in an accident, and a car suddenly comes his direction. Then the film cuts to black. As someone who almost died in a car accident himself, I actually thought this is what would happen if I hadn’t made it.

When Chris wakes up, he finds that he is in heaven. I can honestly say that most film’s depiction of heaven never feels right, even if it is the traditional white setting that somewhat resembles descriptions from the book of Revelation. The heaven in this film is essentially a product of the mind of its inhabitant. In the case of Chris, he loved the art of his wife’s paintings, so his heaven looks like his wife’s pictures. The heaven in this film does look like a place where I would want to go, and it reminds me of the Rococo art movement.

In this heaven, Chris gets to meet his children, who were also killed together in a car accident. From there, the film cuts to the afterlife, to the past life, back to life again. It is a very interesting mix that makes the viewer think about life in general, and it is something that I appreciate about this film.

However, this isn’t like The Tree of Life, as there is a central conflict within this film. The main conflict is that Chris’ wife, Annie, commits suicide. I realize this next section is going to be uncomfortable since we know that Robin Williams also committed suicide, and in all honesty, I hated to make this next logical step.

I have found that films that are the most fantastic often have the most “rules”. That is, there are things that apparently can and can’t be done in the afterlife in What Dreams May Come. The one rule in this film that is very disturbing in light of recent events is that the people who commit suicide go directly to hell.

I have to agree with this rule, even though the film does reveal that there is reincarnation, which is a concept that I don’t believe in. The problem is that as a Christian, I have learned that it is very easy to go to hell. In fact, original sin weighs down sinners so people are born with a nature that will bring them to hell, unless Christ relives them of this burden. The Bible doesn’t say that people who commit suicide immediately go to hell, but I would have to say that it is more than implied. I honestly don’t want to even think about this, because like most people, I like Robin Williams and the idea of him eternally suffering just bugs me.

Here’s the thing that bugs me the most: Robin Williams was in a film where people who commit suicide go straight to hell, and he committed suicide anyway. I honestly believe that this man was suffering through a lot of depression, and didn’t get the help that he needed. I could point fingers at Robin or his friends and family, but I just can’t do that. A long time ago, I wanted to, but I have learned that all this does is just alienate people who need to know the love of God now.

In the movie, Robin Williams does descend into hell to save his wife. It is because that he never gives up that he is able to save her. I would like to think that those who never give up will eventually be freed from whatever prison they are in. I hope that whatever Robin is doing on the other side is for the best. I realize that I have critiqued his typical movie formula in my review of Bicentennial Man, but I honestly believe that since I first saw Robin play Mork from Ork, he truly bought joy into people’s lives.

I am not going to say the Robin Williams is facing hell right now, but the situation reminds me of another Robin Williams film known as World’s Greatest Dad. In that film, Robin plays a father who has a son named Kyle who inadvertently kills himself when he chokes himself while viewing pornography. This film shows Kyle as a real jerk, but Robin doesn’t want his son remembered that way. As a result, Robin writes a suicide note for Kyle that somehow gets into the newspaper. Many of Kyle’s peers make a martyr out of Kyle, and the film is essentially a “liar revealed” story. Eventually, Robin does tell the truth about his son, and there is an odd sequence where Robin Williams runs to the swimming pool and dives in naked.

I’ve watched World’s Greatest Dad twice, and I’m not certain what is the point of the ending other than “the truth will set you free”. I would have to agree with that, but the problem with the truth is that it can hurt to. If you had to ask me where Robin Williams is right now, I would have to say that I don’t honestly know because it is God and not man’s interpretation of the Bible that can judge humans. I have already said what answer that I want to hear. I am not going to judge Robin because I didn’t know him and certainly didn’t know what he went through. The truth is that we all lose. Eventually death is going to get us all, and we can only postpone it. It is sad to see that the man who showed the world that suicide isn’t the answer in the aforementioned two films did it. It is like at the end of The Return of the King, when Frodo walks all the way to Mount Doom, and then decides “No” when it comes time to throw it in.

The only thing that we can do is keep fighting until we can rightly lay down our arms. Sometimes holding out for a little bit longer is all that we need. If his death has inspired those who are fighting hopeless to not give up, then that is a good thing at a very great cost. I can understand why some people have been comforted by watching What Dreams May Come after Robin Williams’ death, but comfort has to be based on truth. I’ve been seeing a lot of “Genie, You’re Free” pics on Facebook paid in tribute to Williams. Since I can’t say whether or not that this is even metaphorically true, I can only hope that it is.