The Dreamlife of Angels (1998)

In Lille, two penniless young women with few prospects become friends. Isa moves in with Marie, who's flat-sitting for a mother and child in hospital in comas following a car crash. Isa is ... See full summary »

Director:

Erick Zonca

Writers:

Erick Zonca, Roger Bohbot

Stars:

Élodie Bouchez, Natacha Régnier, Grégoire Colin

16 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Élodie Bouchez	...	Isabelle 'Isa' Tostin
Natacha Régnier	...	Marie Thomas
Grégoire Colin	...	Chriss
Patrick Mercado	...	Charly
Jo Prestia	...	Fredo
Francine Massenhave	...	La gardienne
Zivko Niklevski	...	Le patron Yougoslave
Murielle Colvez	...	Le chef d'atelier
Lyazid Ouelhadj	...	Le vendeur de billets
Frédérique Hazard	...	La mère de Marie
Jean-Michel Lemayeux	...	L'interne
Louise Motte	...	Sandrine Val
Rosa Maria	...	La première infirmière
Corinne Masiero	...	La femme du Hollywood
Xavier Denamur	...	L'homme des patins

Storyline

In Lille, two penniless young women with few prospects become friends. Isa moves in with Marie, who's flat-sitting for a mother and child in hospital in comas following a car crash. Isa is out-going, unskilled, with hopes of moving south to warmer climes. Marie usually is either angry or detached. Then, while Isa begins to visit the child in whose flat they live, going to hospital to read to her, Marie slowly falls for a rich youth. At first Marie keeps him at bay, then she not only pursues him, she begins to dream he is her life's love. When Isa tries to warn Marie, their friendship flounders. How will Marie handle the inevitable? And once they lose the flat, where will they go?

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Plot Keywords:

northern france | lille france | friendship between women | roommate relationship | homelessness | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some strong sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

In a May 2006 article for the medical journal Neurology, Dr. Eelco Wijdicks concluded that this was one of only two films to accurately depict the state of a comatose patient and the agony of those waiting for the patient to awake. The other film was Reversal of Fortune (1990).

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Quotes

Isa: I'd like to see you when you realize that you need other people.
Marie Thomas: I'll send you a photo.

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Alternate Versions

Original US version was edited from its original NC-17 rating to be re-rated R. European version is uncut.

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Connections

Referenced in High Fidelity (2000)

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Soundtracks

Happy House
Written by Steven Severin and Siouxsie Sioux,
Performed by Siouxsie and the Banshees
Courtesy of Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

The Struggles of the Young

"Dreamlife of Angels" is an absorbing film about two young French women struggling to find their place in life. Both are solidly working class, unskilled and rootless. Circumstance has thrown them together and the film describes a two-month period as they housesit the apartment of a car accident victim. Their prospects are not great, and each deals with the hand life has dealt them very differently.

This is not an uplifting movie, but not a downer either. It tells it's story straight up and unflinchingly. Everything about it is top drawer; the screenplay, the directing and especially the acting by the two young leads, Elodie Bouchez and Natacha Regnier. We'll definitely see more them in the future. This movie is highly recommended.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

16 September 1998 (France)

Also Known As:

The Daydreams of Angels

Filming Locations:

Evéché, Lille, Nord, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$59,333, 4 April 1999

Gross USA:

$1,726,567

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,726,567

Company Credits

Production Co:

Diaphana Films, Les Productions Bagheera, France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1