The Science of Sleep amazes, confuses
Image courtesy of Warner Independent Pictures
Many of the scenes of Michel Gondry's new film, The Science of Sleep, take place in the dreams of Stephane, (Gael Garcia Bernal).
Most people recognize director Michel Gondry's name as being attached to various music videos, with artists ranging from Bjork to The Chemical Brothers.
Yet two years ago, with the release of the popular Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Gondry developed directorial clout that only motion pictures can deliver.
With The Science of Sleep, Gondry, who served as both author and director, has established a comfortable place in cinema to brandish his outlandishly funny and thoroughly entertaining style.
The Science of Sleep revolves around an imaginative protagonist Stephane, who moves to Paris to start a job that his mother has secured for him-a job that he thinks has him painting art for a calendar but instead puts him on a measuring board to monotonously mark up titles for calendars with naked women on them. He ends up rarely spending anytime at the job he loathes, often staying in bed all day wrapped up in his thoroughly amusing dreams.
At the heart of this film is a love story, yet the spectacular pieces of this film are Stephane's dreams. The love story emerges when he quickly falls for his next door neighbor, frequently confusing their interactions in the real world and in his dreams.
Gael Garcia Bernal as Stephane shows an incredible acting range throughout this film, easily separating himself from his other serious roles in films like Bad Education and Y Tu Mama Tambien. His comedic timing and bouncing speech blends perfectly with the fantastic dream sequences, comprised of loads of stop-motion cities and animals as well as "Stephane TV"-Stephane's own television show which he narrates energetically into a cardboard camera.
The characters are drawn in an original, albeit sometimes quirky, way that allows the dialogue to fill up the film with genuinely funny moments. Stephane's inability to understand French (as he pleads with others to talk to him in English) leads to many insults and humorous jabs at Stephane without him even realizing it.
The Science of Sleep seems particularly autobiographical in its nature, as the specific character representations and deep emotions behind the craziness of the story feel extremely personal. In essence, Gondry seems to be telling part of his own story, combining and elaborating upon the style that comprises his previous work. The light and playful style he uses to mold The Science of Sleep makes this entertaining and hilarious romp through the mind an absolute joy to see.
