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The Dreamers (NC-17 Edition) Customer Reviews (58 - 60 of 78 Reviews)

An out of place, out of time tribute to youth in the 1960s
I don't know quite what to make of "The Dreamers". How did a movie with the sensibilities of 1968 suddenly show up in 2004? Though beautiful to look at, it seems oddly out of place. What is a movie in this era of 'either you are with us or against us' doing here? How dare a movie suggest that, after all is said and done, life isn't a matter of right or wrong, but of shades of grays? And what is this vision of youth, not as a dumbed down, almost quaint part of humanity, but as a vibrant, intelligent force which, by its very essence, begets change? Haven't we gotten past such nonsense?

Matthew [Michael Pitt] is an American exchange student spending a year in Paris to study film. He meets French twins, Isabelle [Eva Green] and Theo [Louis Garrel]. They quickly bond, and, when the siblings' parents leave Paris for a month, Matthew moves into their vast old apartment. Their bonding immediately takes a sexual and virtually incestuous turn. The adventure-seeking but ultimately puritanical Matthew is fascinated by the sensuous and all too worldly twins.

While most of the story takes place inside the apartment, it is set against the French student uprising of 1968. Purportedly, this all began when the founder of the French film institute was fired. It quickly spread and nearly toppled the government. Young people today know little about this event, but, at the time, it was front page news. It was an era of disillusionment both in American and in Europe. The culprits were the Vietnam War and the debate over the value of Communism. People over 30 may have been content to twiddle their thumbs over the problems, but youth certainly was not.

Brilliantly directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, the movie is also an ode to the beauty and power of film. The three young protagonists see everything that is happening around them in cinematic terms. Initially, this insulates them, but as the film progresses, it is their undoing. After all, as powerful as it is, art can only imitate life. It can not BE life.

For thinking [God forbid I say 'intellectual'] adult viewers, "The Dreamers" may be a profoundly moving experience. For all others, I can highly recommend the sex scenes - not that thinking people may not enjoy them, too.

Art, sex, and politics
"The Dreamers," directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, is set in Paris in the 60s. Michael Pitt plays Matthew, an American student and cinema lover. He meets Isabelle and Theo (played by Eva Green and Louis Garrel), a brother and sister with a rather unusual relationship. The film follows the trio as they explore their passion for film and for each other in the shadow of political upheaval.

"Dreamers" is a beautiful film to watch. It's full of sensuous, artfully crafted images--many involving explicit nudity. Michael Pitt is impressive in the lead role. He brings a wide-eyed sense of wonder and an appealing vulnerability to his character. He also fully commits to the frank sexuality of the performance.

Despite the efforts of Green and Garrel, however, I never found their characters believable, and this weakens the film overall--as does its abrupt and unsatisfying ending. Still, the film as a whole pulsates with life and energy, and contains some really wonderful scenes. "The Dreamers" is a vivid portrait of a society in upheaval, and a celebration of the power of film.

Not all said up front
There are alot of things that are underneath the serface of this film. You might have to watch the film more than once to get it all. Things that have to obtained from the time and the charecters themselves.(I will not ruin them for you finding them is half the fun) The film is not one that you watch when you are bored with your buddys it is a film that takes all your attention to actually get it.The film ends with no changes in the people only an experience that changed their lives but could not change who they were nomatter how much they tried. I hate movies that charecters change because of an experience this movie seems real in that aspect because the people dont change. It is a little overthe top in certain aspects but it makes you think and is an enjoyable experience.

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