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askerix
Reviews
La science des rêves (2006)
Well, I liked it... not sure if others will though
Hmmm... I just left the cinema and I don't really know what to think of the movie. Having been told that "Science of Sleep" would be much like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I had high hopes for the movie. In that respect I was disappointed but mainly because there is little if any resemblance at all to Eternal Sunshine.
The story is really quite simple. Guy with Mexican/French background moves back to his childhood home in Paris after his father's death. He soon meets his neighbor and her attractive, female friend. At first he is attracted to the friend but he feels that his neighbor is attracted to him. He, however, has no particular interest in her. However, as he discovers that they share a vivid imagination and a joy of creating things, he grows to become more and more fascinated by her. As he realizes that he likes her, he convinces himself that she sees him only as a friend, which frustrates him terribly and makes him do things he would otherwise not have done.
All the while, however, the story is interrupted by the dreams of the protagonist. His dreams show us how he really feels and how he could connect with his neighbor, were they to overcome the fear of being turned down.
The dreams are in part shown using stop-motion effects which are really creative but perhaps a bit too creative for my taste. Some will certainly find the movie wonderful just for the dreamy effects while the majority will probably balk at these effects. That the director has chosen to use effects that clearly illustrate when the protagonist is dreaming is fine since a realistic approach would most likely only confuse the viewer.
All in all I would recommend anyone going to see the movie to go there without any expectations at all and most importantly of all to forget that the director has also made Eternal Sunshine...
Blinkende lygter (2000)
You can still change your life, even after you've turned 40
Each of the four protagonists are in the beginning of the movie in a state of unhappiness. As Torkild, the leader of the band of four of petty criminals, turns 40, he realizes that he is unhappy with his life and decides to change it after a job well done offers him the chance of a lifetime. His friends are at this point not aware of their unhappiness and thus unknowingly and unwillingly go along with Torkild's plan. Torkild's original plan is, however, derailed and suddenly the four friends find themselves in place far from anything they've ever known. Slowly all of them come to realize that the life they were leading, was not making them happy.
In the course of the movie, the director takes the viewer back to the childhood of the main characters, which explains the position they are in as adults. This is done with the darkest of humour, great acting, extreme and wonderful characters, and most of all a great life confirming story that shows the impact of our childhood on our present life, the horrors of malfunctioning families and the value of true friendship.
Don't expect a realistic movie. It is more like a fable. It contains extreme characters that make people think of the movie as a stupid, mindless, violence-packed, worthless movie, but those who see beyond the extremities and give the movie a chance are in for a ride.