Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3215 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-10-11
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 110 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A love letter to movies (and the French new wave of the 1960s in particular), Bernardo Bertolucci's The Dreamers starts with a 1968 riot outside of a Parisian movie palace then burrows into an insular love triangle. Matthew (Michael Pitt, Hedwig and the Angry Inch), an expatriate American student, bonds with a twin brother and sister, Isabelle (Eva Green) and Theo (Louis Garrel), over their mutual love of film--they not only quote lines of dialogue, they act out small bits and challenge each other to name the cinematic source. Matthew suspects the twins of incest, but that doesn't stop him from falling into his own intimacies with Isabelle. As the threesome becomes threatened, Paris succumbs to student riots. The Dreamers aspires to be kinky, but the results are more decorative than decadent; nonetheless, the movie's lively energy recalls the careless and vital exuberance of Godard and Truffaut. --Bret Fetzer

Synopsis
Bernardo Bertolucci's THE DREAMERS centres on three university students who adore the Cinematheque Francaise, and are fascinated by '60s culture--the music of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, the films of Jean-Luc Godard, and the writings of Susan Sontag and Chairman Mao. Their philosophical conversations about sexuality, love, politics, activism, and the Vietnam War; and their daily activities--going to the cinema, protesting in support of Henri Langlois, lounging around naked, and smoking dope--are a realistic reflection of the mood and energy of that era.
The plot involves Parisians Theo (Louis Garrel) and Isa (Eva Green), a brother-sister team with a strangely intimate connection. They befriend their American classmate Matthew (Michael Pitt), and invite him to stay at their apartment for a month while their parents are away on holiday. The trio are so engrossed by their film studies that they act out scenes in an ongoing game of trivia, referencing classics like Sam Fuller's SHOCK CORRIDOR, Godard's BANDE A PART, and Frank Tashlin's THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT. They challenge each other through mind games, deeply personal discussions, and sexual dares. Outside their sheltered apartment, the streets are teaming with violence leading up to the May 1968 Paris uprising. Nouvelle Vague icon Bertolucci weaves clips from classic films into this artful and entertaining movie, while a hard-rock '60s soundtrack adds a palpable edginess.

Customer Reviews

A fascinating story about intimacy
Set in Paris in the 1960s "The Dreamers" is a tale of love, intimacy and possession. An American student Matthew (Michael Pitt) meets the alluring Isabelle (Eva Green) and her equally charismatic twin brother Theo (Lewis Garrel) and their shared love of film and immediate sexual attraction brings the three together. At first Matthew is intrigued by the powerful intimacy between the twins but as time goes by and his feelings for Isabelle intensify he grows weary of what he believes to be a limiting brother-sister relationship.

Whilst the student riots of 1968 is a recurring theme that eventually divides the characters, the tale could just as easily have been set in another place at another time because it's the timeless characters who make the story fascinating and entertaining.

The film is deeply erotic and at times explicit but never gratuitously, with sex scenes and frequent nudity really adding to the understanding of the character relationships.

The film is directed by Bernardo Bertolucci ("Besieged", "Stealing Beauty") and is based on a novel by Gilbert Adair. After watching "The Dreamers" I'm very keen to view other work by both the writer and director.

Defying expectations and actually does the impossible
Without generalising, most of todays films that either try to explore sexuality and youth and liberty tend to side with the explicit, and thus the film is weak.
The Dreamers departs from this tradition. Finally we are given a truely riveting plot, that is utterly consuming, so much so, it is mouth-watering. Here, Bernardo Bertolluci hones his craft perfectly that he does the unimaginable-he gives us characters whom we actually care about. Theo (played by Louis Garell, who after the volitile Ma Mere, proves his acting ability) and his twin sister, Isa, do not have a normal relationship. They liberate themselves and taboo break, they are not phased by seeing one another naked or partaking in sexual acts. But it is a pure bond of love and nothing incestuous, although it does misleadingly form this impression at the beginning.
In steps Matthew, an American student taking in the sights and sounds of Paris, amidst the politcal back drop, that is so vivid, the film has a potent air of true period capture and revolution.
In cinema, if there is one thing i can not abide by, it is jumped up films that are pretentious drivel, pretending to be a mix of drama and erotisism. But that is where again The Dreamers again departs from tradtion. The naked flesh and sexuality explores the relationship between the three characters, in a simply breathtaking manner. Usually the audience will be on alert when the sauce appears on screen, but this film has such a natural ease that what potentially could of caused a mainstream furoure, is instead sheer provocative brilliance.
The young actors are fantastic, haunting and memorable-and what a surprise it was to see Anna Chancellor in this film, as Theo's and Isa's mother.
Believe me, this film is not pretentious pornography; it is a visually stunning and unashamedly flipant film. Touching and humerous, with a bittersweet twist, this is sadly a coming of age tale that will not be as highly regarded by a younger audience, who appreciate the taste of the American Pie triology, but whose pallets are not sophisticated enough to stomach the gripping The Dreamers. An art-house classic of recent times.

Dreamy Dreamers
Set in Paris, 1968, this film conveys the most delicate and beautiful atmosphere, despite the turmoil of the period. In the absence of a plot, it is this atmosphere, and what is created by the three characters that is so appealing. A house to themselves and little money, these characters discover much more to indulge in than their shared passion for film. Shocking, curious and elegant... highly reccomended.