The Science of Sleep [DVD]

Friendly. Unpretentious.
“In dreams, emotions are overwhelming.””Randomness is very difficult to achieve.””I like your boobs. They’re very friendly and unpretentious.”I saw this in an old schoolhouse that was renovated into an indie movie theater. We sat at uncomfortable wooden desks and ate popcorn. It was fall out. I’m saying this because I can’t seem to find that place in New Hampshire anymore. It’s like it never existed. So maybe by writing it down, I can make it more real. Ironic that the lone movie I saw here was Science of Sleep, no?If you appreciate the works of art that Michel Gondry creates through film as his medium, it’s hard to not also fall in love with this story as well. It’s quirky and it’s heartbreaking and it’s frustrating and it’s all very (sur)real.”Screwdrivers, rubber bands, glue guns and pliers, tools to create or destroy/Patiently waiting, un-calculating/Golden the pony boy…”

Making Dreamland Real for Love
Michel Gondry is the master of creating surreal landscapes using simple elements to weave a story of tenderness and warmth. An imaginary tv show set complete with a cardboard city for backdrop with Gael Garcia Bernal mixing up the dream elements in a pan suggests the innocence and folly of dreams. The love story between Bernal and the neighbor Charlotte Gainsbourgh is made from each others dreams and the possibilities and pitfalls of falling in love. I recommend this movie highly. Its a carefree falling in love romp filled with incredibly rich media woven from everyday objects to be a magic kingdom where anything is possible.

Generally Composed With Heart
Thank you for reading in advance“Emotions can be overwhelming in our dreams.”The Science of Sleep (French: La Science des rêves, literally The Science of Dreams) is a 2006 Franco–Italian surrealistic science fantasy comedy film written and directed by Michel Gondry. Starring Gael García Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Miou-Miou and Alain Chabat, the film stems from a bedtime story written by Sam Mounier, then 10 years old..The style and animation alone speaks to the entertainment value of ‘The Science of Sleep’ on its own; Stéphane, jaded by the experiences of a world not ready to embrace his creativity, is present in scenes both familiar to the average audience member and immeasurably bizarre. Because of this, the scenery changes between images that are grounded in reality and others that encapsulate the nature more commonly associated with imagination and dreams. Most impressively, these images are craftily juxtaposed to one another and the immerses viewers into the mind and psyche of a man finding it increasingly harder to distinguish between moments that are happening around him and happening within. We all know a Stéphane; generally speaking, these individuals are hastily labeled as ‘odd’ and shoved in to the metaphorical corners of our mind without so much as a second thought.These tendencies and the mistakes of doing so are explored in such a way that is raw and immeasurably powerful. On top of this, the audience becomes privy to the reason why Stéphane so boldly presents himself as an embodiment abnormality. It is learned early on that Stéphane has suffered a significant loss (No spoilers!) and that no amount of closure or validity has been granted to any feelings he has in regards to this. Primarily, Stéphane values these out-worldly experiences as a way to cope in a world that hasn’t been supportive in the way that he desires or needs. Secondly, these dreams and his imagination allows Stéphane to reconcile his expectations of his environment with the reality of it. Lastly, and maybe even most importantly, these dreams allow Stéphane to explore and process his emotions in a way that is met without judgement and rejection.Romance is a core part of this story but it does not determine the pace in which it moves nor is it unnecessarily doted upon; the relationship between Stéphane and Stéphanie – a next door neighbor that becomes the object of her affection – is introduced as casual in nature and develops over time as a friendship in a way that is logical and without a heavy hand. The audience is not forced to accept these two individuals as infatuated or being bound together by fate from the moment they eyes on one another, and in doing so the intimacy between them feels authentic and is easily related to.It is far too often we find that films with the spirit of ‘The Science of Sleep’ trip over their own grandiose absorption with complexity that it is ultimately pretentious and makes its audience feel jaded to the experience once it comes to an end.‘The Science of Sleep’, however, is an example of the beauty that is possible when information and original thought stays low to the ground as opposed to flying over the head. It is an awkward journey of self-discovery that forces its lens without an overzealous application. It values the absurdity of life that took easily slips through our fingers.There is no indication of the director’s motivation in creating this film, but perhaps it can help serve as a reminder that if we chase our dreams tenaciously enough they may eventually start to chase us in return.I would recommend!

DVD would only play half the movie
the DVD I received did not play the movie all the way through. It froze and wouldn’t let me skip forward. I took the disk out and tried again and the problem continued. I’ve never had a problem like this with a DVD before.

hermosa película, de mis favoritas.

Quelle réussite, ce film tout en douceur m’a émue la première fois et je l’ai revu récemment avec un immense plaisir.

Excelente película.