The Science of Sleep I fear that this review is unfortunately too late. This charming, witty and inventive film has already had its short run at the Cornerhouse in Manchester and unless your local independent cinema is showing it, I don't believe its had a wide national release. Which is quite possibly the only complaint I have about this film. Not enough people are going to see it. To use the words charming, witty and inventive are something of a cliche. But they are also incredibly apt. This is Gondry's first film where he has writer and director credit, his first two films Human Nature and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind were penned by Charlie Kauffmann. If you liked either of those then this film is definitely your cup of tea. It shares the same mind bending blurring of reality that Eternal Sunshine did but Gondry has been able to go as mad as he likes with the visuals. Images in this hark back to Gondry's earlier music video work, especially the videos he produced for The White Stripes and Bjork.
The story revolves around Stephane (Gael García Bernal), who returns to his Parisian home from Mexico, after his father dies. He gets a job which lacks the creativity he expected. In fact its a dead end automoton process of a job. His only relieve is in Stephanie (Charlotte Gainsbourg), the girl next door. Stephane has a child like naievity portrayed in his dreams. However his dreams begin to blur with reality and after the first half hour its begins to get increasingly difficult to tell what is "real" and what isn't it. The script is ingenious. The dialogue is witty and eminently quotable. There is not a faultless performance. And best of all there's little if any CGI. As with Eternal Sunshine (in which Gondry used forced perspective during the scenes where Jim Carrey plays his child-self) he uses a variety of basic techniques - back projection, cardboard sets, stop motion animation, giant hands probably made from papier mache. For those who don't like subtitles you'll be glad to know the majority of the film is actually in English. Stephane's french is limited, only one other character can speak Spanish, so the majority speak English.
Like last years The Last Kiss with Zach Braff this film has no definitive ending. As someone who wants to be a writer I love it when films do this. Real life doesn't have convenient endings, and this perfectly captures a lot about real life. Even if it is outlandish, surreal and very silly. The thoughts that run through Stephanes head are perfectly real thoughts about insecurity, loneliness and neurosis. Anyone who's troubled over "do they like me, or don't they?" thoughts (and who hasn't?) will completely sympathise with Stephane's dilemnas. This film is a delight. Its romantic. Its fun. And its completely bonkers.
TEN OUT OF TEN
Review by Sean Mason
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