The Dreamers Special Ed. - Dvd

Although made rather more recently, the film harks back to 1968 Paris. Then post-de Gaulle, pre-EEC expansion and pre-Euro and facing political and student unrest, France was then very uncertain where it stood on the world political stage. It was not yet 'in amongst the big boys' which is where it sees itself today.

The male subject of the movie Matthew, an American, is in Paris on a one-year course to study the language. During the early days, he by chance encounters a student protest where he encounters an attractive young woman who has seemingly chained herself to some railings. When the protest develops such that the police retaliate against the protesters, he gets caught up in the process. The girl's brother arrives and they return to the siblings' home where their parents are about to depart on holiday. The siblings invite their guest to stay overnight when he later by chance encounters the pair sleeping side-by-side, nude or semi-nude, after their Anglo-French parents have departed (the mother is played by Anna Chancellor, 'Duckface' in Four Weddings and a Funeral).

The siblings have a major interest in classic cinema, especially American movies, and one of their games is to test the other's knowledge. Matthew shares their interest in film and he becomes part of that game which can involve a forfeit, sometimes sexual, should an answer not be known or incorrect. Needless to say, a three-way sexually-motivated relationship later develops as the sister (played by Eva Green) induces and seduces the young man into their games, all of which had been completely private between the pair and very much unknown to their parents. Theo and Isabelle have a history of mutual curiosity and there is the inference of sibling incest, which is later seen to be false as it is Matthew who is Isabelle's first true lover. It appears that Isabelle had never been on a date and possibly the sibling's mutual curiosities are driven by a lack of external relationships with the opposite sex.

There is a scene, roughly mid-way in the movie, where Isabelle, apparently in deliberation, grossly overcooks and burns a meal. Finding it quite inedible, and devoid of funds having cashed all the cheques their parents had left for their upkeep in the weeks ahead, Theo later rummages through what is presumably a restaurant's rubbish pile of discarded food waste to bring home a mixture of partly edible and inedible garbage. Both activities seem to be another side to their gameplay.

The movie attempts to show the changes in personality and attitudes that develop as the relationship expands.

The largely French cast, the major players at least are all very fluent English speaker, although there are moments where they will speak French amongst themselves. Those parts are all sub-titled.

At times all very innocent and mundane and explosive at others, the movie is rather more explicit and thought-provoking than is usual, even for a French movie. I had the impression that it was a challenge for its young stars as is it sexually-charged almost from beginning to end.

Although I am of greater age than those portrayed here, I believe from comments made by younger relatives and by those of friends, that many of today's university students may well see elements of their own lives here. It may perhaps cause concern in some parents to know what their little darlings may be doing behind their backs.

Not quite a French movie, or an American one, but somewhere in between. It should perhaps fail but it does not!

Without generalising, most of todays films that either try to explore sexuality and youth and liberty tend to side with the explicit, and thus the film is weak.

The Dreamers departs from this tradition. Finally we are given a truely riveting plot, that is utterly consuming, so much so, it is mouth-watering. Here, Bernardo Bertolluci hones his craft perfectly that he does the unimaginable-he gives us characters whom we actually care about. Theo (played by Louis Garell, who after the volitile Ma Mere, proves his acting ability) and his twin sister, Isa, do not have a normal relationship. They liberate themselves and taboo break, they are not phased by seeing one another naked or partaking in sexual acts. But it is a pure bond of love and nothing incestuous, although it does misleadingly form this impression at the beginning.

In steps Matthew, an American student taking in the sights and sounds of Paris, amidst the politcal back drop, that is so vivid, the film has a potent air of true period capture and revolution.

In cinema, if there is one thing i can not abide by, it is jumped up films that are pretentious drivel, pretending to be a mix of drama and erotisism. But that is where again The Dreamers again departs from tradtion. The naked flesh and sexuality explores the relationship between the three characters, in a simply breathtaking manner. Usually the audience will be on alert when the sauce appears on screen, but this film has such a natural ease that what potentially could of caused a mainstream furoure, is instead sheer provocative brilliance.

The young actors are fantastic, haunting and memorable-and what a surprise it was to see Anna Chancellor in this film, as Theo's and Isa's mother.

Believe me, this film is not pretentious pornography; it is a visually stunning and unashamedly flipant film. Touching and humerous, with a bittersweet twist, this is sadly a coming of age tale that will not be as highly regarded by a younger audience, who appreciate the taste of the American Pie triology, but whose pallets are not sophisticated enough to stomach the gripping The Dreamers. An art-house classic of recent times.

Set in Paris, 1968, this film conveys the most delicate and beautiful atmosphere, despite the turmoil of the period. In the absence of a plot, it is this atmosphere, and what is created by the three characters that is so appealing. A house to themselves and little money, these characters discover much more to indulge in than their shared passion for film. Shocking, curious and elegant... highly reccomended.