While You Were Sleeping

Main Plot

While You Were Sleeping follows the story of Lucy, a lonely transit worker in Chicago who has a crush on a handsome commuter named Peter. One day, Peter is pushed onto the train tracks and falls into a coma after Lucy saves him from an oncoming train. In a twist of fate, when hospital staff mistakenly believe Lucy is Peter's fiancée, she is drawn into his family's life, who embrace her as part of their family. As Lucy navigates this unexpected situation, she finds herself developing feelings for Peter's brother, Jack. The film explores themes of love, identity, and the complexities of relationships as Lucy grapples with her feelings and the reality of her fabricated connection to Peter. The story unfolds with humorous and heartfelt moments as Lucy learns about herself and what she truly wants in life.

Characters

• Lucy Moderatz, a lonely transit worker, saves her crush from an oncoming train, leading to a series of misunderstandings and romantic entanglements while he's in a coma.
• Bill Pullman plays Jack Callaghan, who falls for Lucy while she pretends to be engaged to his comatose brother, ultimately revealing his own feelings for her.
• Peter Gallagher plays Peter Callaghan, a comatose man whose mistaken engagement to Lucy leads to comedic and heartfelt events, ultimately bringing her closer to his family.

Ending Explained

In While You Were Sleeping, the ending resolves the central conflict surrounding Lucy's complicated love life and her feelings of isolation. After a series of misunderstandings, Lucy finds herself in a love triangle involving Peter, the man she has secretly loved from afar, and Jack, Peter's brother, who has developed genuine feelings for her during Peter's coma. As Peter awakens and attempts to rekindle his relationship with Lucy, she realizes that her true feelings lie with Jack. The climax occurs when Lucy confronts her emotions and the reality of her situation, leading to a heartfelt moment where she must choose between the two brothers. Ultimately, she chooses Jack, symbolizing her growth and the importance of authentic connections over fantasy. The film concludes with a sense of closure as Lucy embraces her newfound happiness with Jack, highlighting themes of love, family, and self-discovery. The resolution not only ties up the romantic entanglements but also reinforces the idea that true love is built on mutual understanding and respect, rather than mere happenstance or idealization. This ending encapsulates the film's exploration of love's complexities and the importance of being true to oneself.