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IMDbPro

The Science of Sleep

Original title: La science des rêves
  • 20062006
  • RR
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
70K
YOUR RATING
Charlotte Gainsbourg and Gael García Bernal in The Science of Sleep (2006)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer0:32
2 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyDramaFantasy
A man entranced by his dreams and imagination is love-struck with a French woman and feels he can show her his world.A man entranced by his dreams and imagination is love-struck with a French woman and feels he can show her his world.A man entranced by his dreams and imagination is love-struck with a French woman and feels he can show her his world.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
70K
YOUR RATING
    • Michel Gondry
    • Michel Gondry
  • Stars
    • Gael García Bernal
    • Charlotte Gainsbourg
    • Miou-Miou
    • Michel Gondry
    • Michel Gondry
  • Stars
    • Gael García Bernal
    • Charlotte Gainsbourg
    • Miou-Miou
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 228User reviews
    • 135Critic reviews
    • 70Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos2

    The Science of Sleep
    Trailer 0:32
    Watch The Science of Sleep
    The Science of Sleep
    Trailer 0:32
    Watch The Science of Sleep

    Photos103

    Gael García Bernal in The Science of Sleep (2006)
    Gael García Bernal in The Science of Sleep (2006)
    Charlotte Gainsbourg, Emma de Caunes, Alain Chabat, and Gael García Bernal in The Science of Sleep (2006)
    Charlotte Gainsbourg and Emma de Caunes in The Science of Sleep (2006)
    Alain Chabat and Gael García Bernal in The Science of Sleep (2006)
    Charlotte Gainsbourg and Gael García Bernal in The Science of Sleep (2006)
    Charlotte Gainsbourg and Gael García Bernal in The Science of Sleep (2006)
    Charlotte Gainsbourg and Gael García Bernal in The Science of Sleep (2006)
    Alain Chabat and Gael García Bernal in The Science of Sleep (2006)
    Gael García Bernal in The Science of Sleep (2006)
    Charlotte Gainsbourg and Gael García Bernal in The Science of Sleep (2006)
    Charlotte Gainsbourg, Emma de Caunes, and Gael García Bernal in The Science of Sleep (2006)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gael García Bernal
    Gael García Bernal
    • Stéphane Miroux
    Charlotte Gainsbourg
    Charlotte Gainsbourg
    • Stéphanie
    Miou-Miou
    Miou-Miou
    • Christine Miroux
    Alain Chabat
    Alain Chabat
    • Guy
    Pierre Vaneck
    Pierre Vaneck
    • Monsieur Pouchet
    Emma de Caunes
    Emma de Caunes
    • Zoé
    Aurélia Petit
    • Martine
    Sacha Bourdo
    Sacha Bourdo
    • Serge
    Stéphane Metzger
    • Sylvain
    Alain de Moyencourt
    • Gérard
    • (as Decourt Moyen)
    Inigo Lezzi
    • Monsieur Persinnet
    Yvette Petit
    • Ivana
    Jean-Michel Bernard
    Jean-Michel Bernard
    • Piano-playing Policeman
    Eric Mariotto
    • Policeman
    Bertrand Delpierre
    • Présentateur JT
      • Michel Gondry
      • Michel Gondry
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At the 2006 Berlin Film Festival, director Michel Gondry told that the main location of the film is a house where he used to live 15 years ago.
    • Quotes

      Stéphanie: Why me?

      Stephane: Because everyone else is boring. And because you are different.You don't like me,Stèphanie.

    • Alternate versions
      The French DVD edition present a alternate version of the film made of B-roll footage.
    • Connections
      Edited into La science des rêves - Film B (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      If You Rescue Me
      (adaptation from "After Hours")

      Written by Lou Reed

      Adaptation by Jean-Michel Bernard

      (c) Oakfield Avenue Music Ltd / Screen Gems - EMI Music Inc.

      Additional lyrics by Linda Serbu (as Miss Linda Colleen Serbu)

      By permission of EMI Music Publishing France SA

      All rights reserved

    User reviews228

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Pure genius from the director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
    The Science of Sleep is most likely the best and most visionary film playing at Sundance this year (I say most likely because I've only seen two, but I doubt that anything can top it). Furthermore, I believe that The Science of Sleep is one of the best and most visionary films I've ever seen.

    The Science of Sleep is about Stephane (Gael Garcia Bernal), a creative and naïve dreamer who moves from Mexico to his childhood home in Paris after his father's death. He takes a job at a calendar company, assuming that it will allow him to express himself creatively. Living across from Stephane is Stephanie (Charlotte Gainsbourg), an equally creative woman. They form a relationship and as it grows, it becomes threatened by Stephane's overactive dream world, which begins creeping into his waking life.

    The Science of Sleep marks the screen writing debut of director Michel Gondry. This is Gondry's third theatrical feature film, after Human Nature and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Much like last year's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, where it was unfiltered Shane Black on the screen; The Science of Sleep is pure Gondry from start to finish. This is Gondry's immense visual world unrestrained by a script by Charlie Kaufman, and this world of fancy and imagination is where the film flourishes.

    The title sequence is set to the image of spin art (think back to the days of your school carnival) as we enter Stephane's active dream world. The paint layers upon itself as the colors stretch further and further outward, while we hear Stephane dreaming. This perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the film as we see bright and vibrant imagery and characters layered upon each other and pulled outward into their worlds. The magic of the sequence is broken, though, when we are immediately brought into the real world.

    Stephane's real life is as banal and mundane as anyone could imagine. As an artist, he feels suffocated in a job where he "glues in a basement all day." In his own time, he creates inventions such as 3D glasses for real life ("Isn't real life already in 3D?" asks Stephanie) or one second time machines. His indomitable creative spirit is what he finds mirrored in the equally creative, yet more realistically centered Stephanie.

    In direct contrast is Stephane's dream world. It is outlandish, beautiful, and unrestrained. It is in these sequences when Gondry takes flight. The sequences are filled with so much eye candy it is difficult to take in. They range from the absurd (a spider typewriter), to the grand (an entire cardboard city), or to the beautiful (a cloth horseback ride to a boat on a sea of cellophane). What makes the sequences all the more incredible is that, for the most part, he relies only on practical effects. Also remarkable is the way that the dream world represents the film's reality. The film is so very aware of itself and its intentions and the dream sequences utilize that knowledge to the full extent. As the dreams begin to invade the real world, this knowledge becomes even more vital. Gondry's meticulous attention to detail is a benefit, seeing as he does not confound himself, and therefore does not confound the audience (for the most part).

    It is also filled with wonderful dialogue, and it finds transcendent humor through the characters. By using truth instead of punch lines to provide the humor, Gondry adds another layer to his already versatile film. The dialogue is in French, English, and Spanish, each seamlessly interweaving with each other, much like the realities of the film interweave. There comes a point in the film where you stop realizing the language of the film is constantly changing. It comes as the three worlds represented by the language (the Spanish is who Stephane was; the English, he who is now; and the French is his dream of the future) begin to merge into Stephane's one reality.

    The film truly ascends to its full potential when it arrives at such an incredibly heightened state where we have little idea if we are in reality or in a dream. It is a language of its own, and in and of itself, it is seamless.

    The Science of Sleep is not simply a visual wonder of a film, either. The performances are touching and heartfelt. Gael Garcia Bernal continues to be one of the most talented actors working. His performance is filled with so much raw emotion, giving a strong emotional core to the film. I believe that without his powerful and nuanced performance, the spectacle of the film would have been too much; however, Bernal keeps it grounded in reality with a performance so truthful that the insanity happening around him seems completely believable. The same can be said of Charlotte Gainsbourg as Stephanie, as well as the myriad of supporting actors, each playing fully developed characters.

    Few films ever achieve their full potential, this exceeds it. The Science of Sleep is a film that will excite you with its visual fancy, and touch you with its powerful emotion. Michel Gondry has created a film that even through the unbelievable proceedings, has so many deftly-crafted human moments. Deep down, this film is a love story. Going back to the title sequence's spin art, below all of layers being spun and pushed around run currents of human emotion which Gondry smartly anchors the film with; therefore, allowing it to soar.
    helpful•251
    96
    • Mr_Cellophane
    • Jan 26, 2006

    FAQ1

    • What Language Is This Film In?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 29, 2006 (United States)
      • France
      • Italy
      • Warner Bros.
      • French
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Chérence, Val-d'Oise, France
    • Production companies
      • Partizan Films
      • Gaumont
      • France 3 Cinéma
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 45 minutes
      • Color
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital

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