Here's the better version that i posted on http://www.movieinterpretations.com/ :
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This 'interpretation' I think, is really quite simple. First off, I do not believe that this movie necessarily has some hidden theme per se. The theme really is quite clear: in the normal presentation of the movie and the character's interaction, I believe that the theme is powerfully conveyed.
However, the above 'interpretation' does not readily come across because of something that is explicitly left out--perhaps the only thing that is explicitly left out.
In short, when you physically sit down and watch the movie, the beginning of the movie is not actually the beginning.
When you physically sit down and begin the movie, imagine that the whole beginning: Olive singing, Caden waking-up, and everyone else--are already in the play that Caden gets a grant for. Later in the movie, when Caden is depicted as getting the grant, that is actually a recreation--because as i said, the movie is within the play already.
We never see when Caden ACTUALLY gets the grant.
I believe that this interpretation is proved on two counts not necessarily independent of each other:
1. At the time when Hazel buys the house--it is on fire.
Thus far, the movie presents itself as being in the 'real world'. So, when Hazel buys a burning house from a realtor, that is obviously impossible.
2. There is cell phone usage throughout the movie. This means that there is interaction between satellites and however many warehouses you want to imagine we are inside of.
In my opinion, everything opens up after this is seen. Additionally, it even allows the movie to work like we are inside of it--within one of the many warehouses like everyone else.
Perhaps this has already been presented as an interpretation, but i have not personally seen anything that resets the film's foundational beginning as being part of the play.
Hope this helps,
