The Dreamers (2003)

A young American studying in Paris in 1968 strikes up a friendship with a French brother and sister. Set against the background of the '68 Paris student riots.

Director:

Bernardo Bertolucci

Writers:

Gilbert Adair (screenplay), Gilbert Adair (based on the novel)

Stars:

Michael Pitt, Louis Garrel, Eva Green

2 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Michael Pitt	...	Matthew
Eva Green	...	Isabelle / Sister
Louis Garrel	...	Theo / Brother
Anna Chancellor	...	Mother
Robin Renucci	...	Father
Jean-Pierre Kalfon	...	Self
Jean-Pierre Léaud	...	Self (as Jean-Paul Leaud)
Florian Cadiou	...	Patrick
Pierre Hancisse	...	First Buff
Valentin Merlet	...	Second Buff
Lola Peploe	...	The Usherette
Ingy Fillion	...	Theo's Girlfriend

Storyline

Paris, spring 1968. While most students take the lead in the May 'revolution', a French poet's twin son Theo and daughter Isabelle enjoy the good life in his grand Paris home. As film buffs they meet and 'adopt' modest, conservatively educated Californian student Matthew. With their parents away for a month, they drag him into an orgy of indulgence of all senses, losing all of his and the last of their innocence. A sexual threesome shakes their rapport, yet only the outside reality will break it up.

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Plot Keywords:

female full frontal nudity | menage a trois | brother sister relationship | 1960s | female explicit nudity | 

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Taglines:

A new film by director Bernardo Bertolucci

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R18

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dominic Cooper was considered for the role of Matthew.

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Goofs

Early in the film, Matthew hides a stolen photograph of Isabelle in his underpants to prevent his hosts from seeing him with it. Later, he loses a contest with Isabelle and is forced by her to strip and the photograph is still inexplicably in his underwear, even though several days have passed and he is wearing completely different clothes.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Matthew: The first time I saw a movie at the cinématèque française I thought, "Only the French... only the French would house a cinema inside a palace."

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Crazy Credits

The word "events" is misspelled in the sentence stating "The wevents, characters and firms depicted in this photoplay are fictitious."

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Alternate Versions

US R-rated version runs ca. 3 minutes shorter than the uncut NC-17-rated version.

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Connections

References La chinoise (1967)

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Soundtracks

The Spy
(1970)
Written by The Doors
Published by Doors Music Co.
Performed by The Doors
Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group
By arrangment with Warner Strategic Marketing UK

User Reviews

Only real film lovers will understand – and love – this work of art

"The Dreamers" is one of Bernardo Bertolucci's most underrated films. A mesmerizing love declaration for The Cinema, this unforgettable film must be discovered.

In 1968, 19-year-old American Matthew (Michael Pitt), while settling in Paris for studying French, meets two equally young, beautiful and liberal film buffs: the twins Isabelle (Eva Green, another Bertolucci's luminous discovery, like he did with Liv Tyler in "Stealing Beauty") and Theo (Louis Garrel, son of French director Philippe Garrel and the best of the cast). The twins' parents travel, and Matthew is invited to join the attractive duo in their apartment. He accepts the invitation, of course, and the threesome starts a bizarre game of seduction with a charming leitmotiv: riddles about classic films. Who doesn't know the right answer, has to do what he/she is asked to. In the background, student riots in defense of Henri Langlois and his merit on the Cinémathèque Française are breaking out on the streets.

The film is superb, artistically and technically. Bertolucci is top-notch, the soundtrack is overwhelming (with songs by Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Édith Piaf, among others), and the cinematography (by Fabio Cianchetti) is one of the best, if not the best, I've seen recently. Gilbert Adair, we can't forget, did an excellent job adapting his novel, "The Holy Innocents", to the big screens. The sex/full frontal scenes and amorality can shock some people, this is definitely not a film for all tastes (as almost all masterpieces), but those who are open-minded and admire good cinema, will be entranced. The ending is one of the most surprising, original and brilliant I've ever seen, but, unfortunately, not everyone will get it. That's a crying shame, but original films tend to be misunderstood. "The Dreamers" is no exception.

A must-see to all film lovers. My vote is 10.

Details

Country:

UK France Italy USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

10 October 2003 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Innocents

Filming Locations:

Palais Chaillot, Paris 16, Paris, France

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$142,632, 8 February 2004

Gross USA:

$2,532,228

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$15,121,165

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures, HanWay Films, Medusa Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min 112 min (R-rated)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1