The Science of Sleep

The Science of Sleep (USA 2006, 105′) Dir.: Michel Gondry. With Gaël Garcia Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Emma de Caunes, Alain Chabat. My rating: | Official Site.

This curious and amazing film was strangely enough not selected for this year’s Cannes Filmfestival, although it was far better than most of the films I saw in the Official Selection. Luckily was able to catch a screening on the Film Market. Michel Gondry is the court jester of some of the world’s most creative musical talents like Björk, Beck and the White Stripes, and The Science of Sleep is his third feature film. He secured his place with of Enternal Sunshine the Spotless Mind, one of the best films of the 21st cenury so far. The script of this gem was written by mastermind Charlie Kaufman, but Gondry wrote The Science of Sleep’s screenplay himself.

Stéphane Miroux (Gaël Garcia Bernal) is a graphic artist who has difficulties distinguishing dreamas and reality. (This description was be enough for me to identify with the protagonist.) In his dreams he is presenting his own tv-show, in the real world he to shy to seduce the girls he likes, in this case his neighbour (Charlotte Gainsbourg). He invents a marvelous one second time machine, which does exactly what it says. Stephane finds a way to lure his neighbour, symetrically called Stephanie, into his dream world.

The Science of Sleep is a childish film, but that’s a compliment. Without any exception, the actors are great (even Charlotte Gainsbourg, whom I usually dislike). The film is visually incredibly rich. If you believe in dreams, then go and see this film immediately. If you don’t, you might stay stuck in the boring reality.

Showing in France from tomorrow (16 August), next week in Belgium (23 August), in the US in a limited release from 22 September and in The Netherlands from 23 November. More release dates on IMDB.