The Dreamers

The Dreamers (Bernardo Bertolucci, 2003) is a controversial film that takes place during the May 1968, in Paris. Nevertheless, the film does not concentrate in the protests but in the relationship between three youngs: Matthew (Michael Pitt), Isabelle (Eva Green) and Theo (Louis Garrel).

Matthew is the voice that narrates the film. He is an American student in Paris. There he falls in love with cinema, with Isabelle and Theo (twins), with their parents, with the city..

Their relation between the three of them grows up so much so that he moves to the twin's home. He realise there is something strange between Theo and Isabelle. But he is happy living in this bohemian life. 
There is a lot of references to cinema. They do not only have a "cinema contest" but also identify themselves with some of the films and they imitate their favorite films. This is a way to have the life of their dreams.

Almost all the film takes place at home. It is a claustrophobic space, but also a reflection of the relation. Even if the film does not concentrate in what happened in Paris, their life inside is a metaphor of what's happening outside. They family changes, they have a different conception of sex.. Taboo subjects, as incest, become natural. There are a lot of explicit sexual scenes.

 The Dreamers is colorful and inspiring. Its mise-en-scène reflects the 60s. For example, in costumes, or in the cinema scene where everyone smoke.

 

However, The Dreamers may leave a bad taste in one's mouth. The transition from adolescence to adulthood, the discovery of one's and the others, the separation from one's parents, the fantasy of a different and better life.. They also do.