The Science of Sleep

By Kate Xian
September 22, 2006

"You can see life in 3D."
"But isn't life already in 3D?"
"Yeah, but c'mon."

Michel Gondry's latest film is without doubt a curious and artful exploration of the mind and dreams, further expanding his examination of the world after we've fallen asleep from The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Gondry's The Science of Sleep may not be your Michael Bay blockbuster action, but can a film this quirky draw a similar audience as it is about one of the most basic of human emotions, love?

Entertainment 8/10

The puppetry and childlike settings are adorable enough to draw anyone in. Imagine a giant crayon drawing that you've done back in the first grade. Stéphane's (Gael Garcia Bernal) dream world is exactly this brought to life. The quirky sets and oddball jokes keep you watching and almost on the edge of your seat, waiting in anticipation for the next most absurd thing to come out of someone's mouth. Particularly Stéphane's.

Though I do commend the film on keeping me visually stimulated and laughing, the story in itself seemingly got lost among this organized chaos. Or maybe it's called Parallel Synchronized Randomness? Either way, the plot got a little thin at some points and the combining of reality and dreams also lead to a disorienting effect. Possibly intended, but regardless it left me trying to reorganize my thoughts rather than focusing on the film.

The opening dream sequence of the film did wonders to set the tone, however, by end, the film leaves you a little unsatisfied. Gondry may have focused too much of his efforts on the visual spectacle of the film leaving the storyline to suffer. One of Stéphane's ships may have sailed off into the distance rendering his dream recipe incomplete. "…friendships, relationships and all those ships…"

Innovation 10/10

Though the plot felt thin, I must praise Gondry on bringing the imagination to life rather flawlessly. Through stop motion animation and on set effects, we're brought into the wondrous mind of a child - except it's not the mind of a child, it's the mind of all us adults, but the part we section off, abandon and oppress. From Stéphane's God-like fantasies to the random comings and goings of objects and thoughts, Gondry has successfully recreated the chaos the keeps us asleep at night.

Although technically speaking, Gondry failed in the definition of innovation in terms of visual effects, but it is exactly in this that Gondry deserves a perfect score for reincarnating old classic techniques reminiscent of old school film revolutionaries of Georges Méliès and the French avant-garde. Films today only get bigger and more reliant on CGI, compositing, green screens and making everything as "real" as possible that we lose sight of how those images make us feel. Gondry's stop motion animation proves that it is a technique that is not outdated, but in fact timeless. You can't help but smile when the razor crawls across the floor. No amount of CGI and computer magic can seem to bring us back to our childhood memories and imagination as closely as Gondry has.

Emotional Resonance 6.5/10

As reminiscent as the images are to childhood experiences of playing in one's mind, reincarnating a child in Stéphane himself may have pushed the line. At first endearing, Stéphane's naivety, innocence and social awkwardness eventually becomes a huge turnoff. Stephanie (Charlotte Gainsbourgh) was right when she said "it's unattractive for a grown man to cry." The fragility of Stéphane becomes both angering and heartbreaking to watch. And unfortunately, we stay only with Stéphane long enough to feel any sort of bond but by film's end, it is almost a relief to be able to part ways.

Social Context 7.5/10

Aforementioned The Science of Sleep is rooted in one of the most basic of human emotions, love. Unlike many other romantic comedies or dramas, The Science of Sleep focuses on the confusing beginnings of those butterflies in the stomach. The "she loves me, she love me not" stages. I can't imagine anyone who has not gone through the mysterious process of it all. Girl falls for boy, boy falls for girl's friend, girl falls out of love for boy, boy falls for girl. Typical process for most folk. Again Gondry has delightfully recreated the confusing phase of "like" and one can't help but think of the one that got away because of bad timing. It's a feeling that many before us have dealt with and plenty after us will continue to struggle with. I can't help but recall a line from a Backstreet Boys (yes, I did say Backstreet Boys) song "it's so dark and mysterious when the one you want doesn't want you."

Recall 8/10

I think those who get the opportunity to watch this film will likely remember this film for its key ingredients: Stéphane's hilarious vulgarities and warm, nostalgic feelings of living in your childhood dreams.

Gael Garcia Bernal's performance itself is also a definite reason to watch The Science of Sleep. Though not your typical cry me a river performance honoured at a certain ceremony with little golden men, Bernal's performance is just as heartbreaking. Stéphane's insecurities are so raw and he is so childlike it is difficult to see Bernal in Stéphane at all. Bernal's other most notable performance in The Motorcycle Diaries as a young Che Guevara was that of a confident, strong, steadfast man but here Gondry has turned him into a child so full of vulnerabilities that it is almost schizophrenic.

Overall 80%

"I am your neighbor and a liar. By the way, do you have Zoe's number?"

Limited Release Date: September 22nd, 2006
Running Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Michel Gondry
Producers: Georges Bermann and Frédéric Junqua
Screenplay: Michel Gondry
Director of Photography: Jean-Louis Bompoint
Editor: Juliette Welfling
Music: Jean-Michel Bernard