The Science of Sleep review

DVD of the week - For a fresh and imaginative film that blends the surreal with the sublime, look no further than The Science of Sleep.

The Science of Sleep, out on DVD this week, is a playful romantic fantasy set inside the surreal mind of Stéphane Miroux (Gael Garcia Bernal), an eccentric young man whose dreams invade his waking life.

Blurring the lines between fiction and reality, viewers witness a plot which seamlessly shuffles between the one-man TV shows and life size toys of Stéphane’s vivid dreams, and the reality of his mundane life in a Parisian apartment with his Mother and a dull job at a dreary calendar company. When Stéphane meets Stéphanie (Charlotte Gainsbourg), a shy neighbour from next door, the two form an unusual friendship.

The boundaries between the waking and sleeping worlds are subtly blurred and the plot is messy and meandering, meaning that, like Marmite, you will either love or hate The Science of Sleep, and the continuous switching between English, French and Spanish will either enchant or annoy. But Gondry’s stylised creativity (combining fantastic props, a splattering of animation and lavish sets) tells a bitter sweet, beautiful tale that gives Bernal the perfect opportunity to show-off his superb acting range. And even the harshest of critics will appreciate the unique charm of this fascinatingly unpredictable film.

If you loved Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, director Michel Gondry’s latest unconventional cinematic offering is likely to leave a lump in your throat. The budget and big name actors may have been slashed, but The Science of Sleep is nevertheless a stylish, visually exhilarating and authentic film which will touch your heart almost as much as your imagination.

Film: The Science of Sleep
Directed by: Michel Gondry
Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg
Classification: 15
Release date: 25 June 2007
Available from: Amazon for £9.98

Michelle Byrne
25 June 2007