When you’re asleep

About This Movie

When you're asleep (1998) is a curious little piece of animation that plays with texture and sound in a way that feels both intimate and dreamlike. The use of sand animation layered over 16mm film creates a tactile quality that’s really something special. You can almost feel the grit as it moves through the frames. The phrase that inspired the film—"but it's always when you're asleep that I want to talk to you"—gives it a wistful, almost haunting quality. There's a slow, deliberate pacing that allows you to sink into the atmosphere, making each moment feel significant. It’s a fascinating exploration of dreams and communication, layered with an emotional weight that lingers long after it ends.

Unique sand animation techniqueThemes of dreams and communicationLayering of sound and visual textures