In my Spanish film class this week, we watched Alejandro Amenábar’s film Open Your Eyes, which made me think about how the rhetoric of games and play can be found beyond what is typically thought of as games and play. In the film, César seems to be stuck in a loop of an inability to discern between real life and fantasy, which is evident in the multiple dream sequences. What this represents is how when someone feels helpless in life, it is almost as if they are playing a game of which they are unaware of the rules.
César is unable to find solace in anything, even Sofía, which seemed to be the only rule of the game he can figure out. This idea suggests that like in games, life can only be worth playing if the ones playing are aware of the rules and ideas that govern interaction. When one is unaware and does not know how to play, they want to tap out and find something different to do. Much like when playing a game with a friend who gives up and does whatever they feel like because they are unable to figure out how to play.
