The Science Of Sleep

This entry was posted by jon on Wednesday, February 14th, 2007 at 12:58 am.

Director Michel Gondry has evolved a peculiar genius for laying bare the weird pathologies of love.

In the excellent Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Gondry gave Charlie Kaufman’s weird sci-fi/fantasy/romance the visual punch it needed. In The Science of Sleep, Gondry himself handles the screenwriting duties, and although he comes across as less-assured, the script is just as enchanting as his past successes.

Enchanting, yes. Messy? Another yes. It’s all beautiful, though, and Gondry’s visuals are a childlike and familiar delight. The movie is comprised mostly of dream sequences, but about midway through—when the protagonist begins confusing his strange, vivid dreams with reality—so does the viewer.

Undoubtedly, The Science of Sleep is confusing. As far as acting, Gael Garcia Bernal (consistently good, as in Y Tu Mama Tambien, Amores Perros, and Bad Education) does a fine job as Stephane as we witness his deterioration into fantasy. Charlotte Gainsbourg is able as the object of his affections. The wolfish office manager, Guy, is one of the film’s most memorable characters. In truth, though, the visuals and the dreams are the stars here. Sit back and enjoy.

A-