The Sleepers
Synopsis
The Sleepers is a startlingly dark vision of sleeping people suspended under water, unable to make contact with the world outside. Viola describes the work: “Seven 55-gallon metal barrels stand in a darkened room. They are white inside and out and are open at the top. The only light in the room is a soft bluish glow emerging from each barrel and diffused throughout the room. The barrels are filled to the brim with water. At the bottom of each one under the water is a black-and-white video monitor facing straight up, the source of the blue light. Video and power cables for the monitor are visible as they emerge from the floor and enter the water over the top rim of each barrel. On each screen is a close-up of a person’s face while asleep. There is an image of a different person in each barrel, actual recordings of people sleeping presented continuously with little or no editing.
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Bill Viola
- Original Title
- The Sleepers
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- Unknown
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Bill Viola
Department Leadership Roster
Bill Viola
Director
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Sleepers.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Sleepers.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Sleepers
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Sleepers about?
The Sleepers is a startlingly dark vision of sleeping people suspended under water, unable to make contact with the world outside. Viola describes the work: “Seven 55-gallon metal barrels stand in a darkened room. They are white inside and out and are open at the top. The only light in the room is a soft bluish glow emerging from each barrel and diffused throughout the room. The barrels are filled to the brim with water. At the bottom of each one under the water is a black-and-white video monitor facing straight up, the source of the blue light. Video and power cables for the monitor are visible as they emerge from the floor and enter the water over the top rim of each barrel. On each screen is a close-up of a person’s face while asleep. There is an image of a different person in each barrel, actual recordings of people sleeping presented continuously with little or no editing.
Who directed The Sleepers?
The Sleepers was directed by Bill Viola.
Who stars in The Sleepers?
The principal cast of The Sleepers includes Not specified.
When was The Sleepers released and how long is it?
The Sleepers was released in 1992 with a total runtime of Unknown.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Sleepers?
The Sleepers holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).