The Science of Sleep

director: Michel Gondry
writer: Michel Gondry

If we could live in our dreams, would we ever want to wake up? Why bother when in our dreams, the object of our affections would return our sentiments and we could ride off into the sunset together on a woven horse.

However, living in your dreams apparently has its drawbacks, like being emotionally stunted. Flirting consists of commenting on your girl's unpretentious boobs and absent penis. But then again, it doesn't get boring. Why bring your sweetheart flowers when a one second time machine makes a more "useful" gift?

Imaginative French writer/director (and music video god) Michel Gondry brings us this fanciful modern-day fairytale, starring indie film virtuoso Gael Garcia Bernal and the unconventionally beautiful Charlotte Gainsbourg. While his wonderfully fantastical Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind dealt with memories and this Charlie Kaufman-less venture deals in dreams, love is always the central theme, as in life. The reason I appreciate these films, besides their originality is the tender way they portray romance sans sappiness. I find the relationships set in these surreal backgrounds ironically real. Love is hard. People are damaged. Relationships get old and people tire of each other. Yet, we persevere and try again. And that these films can capture all this beauty in sadness with care and warmth is an achievement.

The Science of Sleep does not hold up to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (one of my favorite romantic films) in story and depth. But it is magical in its own right and surprisingly funny and perverse. And the ending will leave you with lingering thoughts like those following an enigmatic but fleeting dream.

rating: ****/***** (a definite-see)

recommendations: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Lost in Translation, Love Me If You Dare, Being John Malkovich