StateLikeSleepisafilmaboutthebasicneedforhumanconnectionandlove.Thetitlerefersnotonlytoadoctorsinadequateyetpoeticdescriptionofwhatitsliketobeinacoma,butalsotothepsychologicalstateonecanenterwhendealingwithtrauma;emotionallyclosedoffbutacutelyconscious,ablankexteriorhousingarichinteriorlife.Thestoryenablesthissurrealstatebypairingspiritualdamagewithawkwardhumor,thrillwithmystery,andsexualspectaclewiththesublime.StateLikeSleepfindsloveandhopeinunexpectedplacesasittravelsthroughtheupsanddownsofmourningandloss.