Nothing Like Dreaming (2004) User Reviews

Exploring A Strange Vermont Relationship

[seanpbizner-1 · 9/10 · 15 May 2005]

Nora Jacobson's "Nothing Like Dreaming" is probably nothing like you've ever seen before, unless you're familiar with her previous work, or the work of another Vermont filmmaker, Walter Ungerer. While Ungerer's work usually shuns a traditional story structure, in NLD we are shown the growth of a relationship between two unique and interesting characters.

Emma (Bicknell) is a young high school senior, just accepted to Yale, when her friend is killed in a drunk driving accident. Through her rage and sadness, she finds another lost soul to be with- the much older Sonny Gale (Woodard), whose mental health is in serious question.

The two form a relationship around the Fire Organ, a rare musical instrument which Emma helps Sonny make. Most organs are played with air pumped through tubes, but the Fire Organ (an actual instrument) is played by blowing fire from a torch into the tubes, creating a haunting sound to accompany the strange visual.

I don't want to say too much more about this film, only that I would encourage people to try and see it any way they can, because it is a movie worth seeing. www.NothingLikeDreaming.com has screening times and locations, and you can get the video there too. I highly recommend this movie to anyone interested in wading away from the mainstream of independent cinema.

George Woodard as Sonny is the saving grace of this film

[aamyot802 · 6/10 · 1 October 2009]

I was excited to see 'Nothing Like Dreaming' in my local library. Vermont director Nora Jacobson's previous film, My Mother's Early Lovers, was quite good.

I wish I could say the same for this movie. I did not find this story very interesting or compelling. The concept of the story is good, but in this case, not told in an intelligent or believable way.

Vermonters in this film are not portrayed in a positive light, or even realistically.

The scene in the bathtub with Emma and her mother is completely unnecessary. Ms. Jacobson said in the director's comments that she wanted Emma to be "washed clean". That's again a good concept, but it could have been done without nudity and been more affecting.

George Woodward is a great actor and was the saving grace for me in this film.