The Science of Sleep
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| The Science of Sleep | |
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 The Science of Sleep Theatrical Poster |
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| Directed by | Michel Gondry |
| Written by | Michel Gondry |
| Starring | Gael García Bernal Charlotte Gainsbourg Alain Chabat Miou-Miou Dan Fleury Emma de Caunes Aurélia Petit Sacha Bourdo |
| Music by | Jean-Michel Bernard |
| Cinematography | Jean-Louis Bompoint |
| Editing by | Juliette Welfling |
| Distributed by | Gaumont (France) Warner Independent Pictures (US) |
| Release date(s) |  16 August 2006 22 September 2006 16 February 2007 |
| Running time | 106 min. |
| Country | France |
| Language | English, French, Spanish |
| Budget | USD $6,000,000[1] |
| Gross revenue | USD $14,626,386[2] |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
The Science of Sleep, or La Science des rêves (literally The Science of Dreams), is a 2006 French film, written and directed by Michel Gondry. The film stars Gael García Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Miou-Miou and Alain Chabat.
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[edit] Plot summary
Stéphane (Gael García Bernal) is a young man whose vivid dreams and imagination often interfere with his ability to interact with reality. He is coaxed back to his childhood home after his divorced father passes away and his mother finds him a job in France. He initially assumes he will be working creatively, and prepares colorful drawings, each showing a disaster, for a "disasterology" calendar. However, nobody appreciates his talents and he is set to mundane typesetting work. While leaving his apartment to go to work one day, Stéphane injures his hand helping his new neighbor move a piano into her apartment. The new neighbor, Stéphanie (Charlotte Gainsbourg), invites Stéphane into her apartment (not knowing he actually lives next door) where her friend Zoé (Emma de Caunes) tends to his wound. Stéphane initially forms an attraction to Zoé, though he suspects it is instead Stéphanie who likes him.
Stéphane realizes that Stéphanie, like he, is creative and artistic. They plan a project for use in a short animated film. Following the advice of Guy (Alain Chabat), Stéphane's sex-obsessed co-worker, Stéphane pretends that he isn't Stéphanie's neighbor, pretending to leave the building when he leaves her apartment. That night, when he is sleepwalking he writes a confusing note to Stéphanie that asks for Zoé's phone number. Stéphane realizes his mistake and retrieves the letter with a coat hanger, without realizing Stéphanie has already read it.
Surrealistic and naturalistic elements begin to overlap, and the viewer is never certain of which portions are real and which are merely dreams. Stéphane becomes more enamored with Stéphanie as he spends more time with her and shares his many inventions with her. He gives her a "one-second time machine". He asks her repeatedly if she will marry him, despite her consistent rejections. Stéphane's dreams encroach on his waking life as he tries to win Stéphanie's heart and misses time at work. He breaks into Stéphanie's apartment, takes her small, stuffed horse toy and repairs its broken mechanism. While putting it back into her apartment, Stéphanie arrives and catches him, shocked, calling him "creepy." Embarrassed and heartbroken, Stéphane retreats to his apartment where he receives a call from Stéphanie who apologizes and thanks him for the gift she discovers: a galloping version of "Golden the Pony Boy," named after Stéphane.
Waking and dreaming become even more intermixed. To Stéphane's surprise, the calendar manufacturer accepts his "Disastrology" idea and it becomes a great success. A party is thrown in his honor, but he becomes depressed and begins drinking excessively after he witnesses Stéphanie dancing flirtatiously with another man. Stéphane and Stéphanie then have a confrontation in their hallway when Stéphane announces that he doesn't want to be Stéphanie's friend any longer. Stéphanie becomes very upset, offering Zoé's phone number and reciting Stéphane's note. Stéphane, still unaware that Stéphanie has read the note, assumes that they are connected through "Parallel Synchronized Randomness", a rare phenomenon he has examined in his dreams. Stéphanie offers that they discuss their issues on a date, but on Stéphane's walk to the café to meet her, he has a frightful vision that she isn't there and she doesn't love him. He runs back to her apartment and bangs on her door, demanding that she stop torturing him, though, in actuality, she is indeed waiting for him at the café. Tired of waiting, Stéphanie returns home. Stéphane finally decides that he's had enough and prepares to return to Mexico.
Before leaving, Stéphane's mother (Miou-Miou) insists that he say goodbye to Stéphanie. In his attempt to do so, he becomes extremely crass as he makes sexual jokes. Yet he reveals that he is truly interested in her because she's different from other people. Stéphane spots two items on her bedside: the boat with the forest inside of it and his one-second time machine. He falls asleep on her bed as Stéphanie watches him and gently strokes his hair. Stéphane dreams of himself and Stéphanie riding on Golden the Pony Boy and sailing off into the ocean's horizon on the white boat.
[edit] Soundtrack
The score to The Science of Sleep was composed by Jean-Michel Bernard.
The song "Instinct Blues" by the The White Stripes is featured in the film.[3]
[edit] Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- The dream sequence in which Stéphane's hands become giant was inspired by a recurring nightmare director Michel Gondry had as a child. Gondry had previously incorporated aspects of this dream into the music video for the Foo Fighters' 1997 single "Everlong".
- Stéphane has the record sleeve "How Soon Is Now?" (by The Smiths) above his bed. This track is dedicated to the awkwardness of shyness.
- Stephanie's horse, Golden the Pony Boy, is a reference the S.E. Hinton novel The Outsiders.
- The sequence where a band of people, dressed as cats, play the song "If You Rescue Me", parodies the song "After Hours" by the Velvet Underground
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Science des rêves, La (2006) - Box office / business. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
- ^ The Science of Sleep (2006). Box Office Mojo. Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
- ^ Science des rêves, La (2006) - Soundtracks. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 2007-06-07.
[edit] External links
