Review of The Science of Sleep

In its own seemingly surreal and fully tongue-in-cheek way, The Science of Sleep relates very much to the creative libido in many of us in an eager young dreamer who has yet to mature. Gael Garcia Bernal, who has played roles with the directly opposite effect as this one, is very moving as the often aggravating, childish, yet totally innocent and beautiful hero of the story, which I assume is his story, but I do not assume that he knows it's his story, which leaves me with a very intricate impression of the movie. What I got out it was a satisfying portrait of a person so consumed with their dreams that he has phased out all logic and pragmatism in his life. We never understand fully what is really happening and what isn't.

Something I greatly admire about Michel Gondry's work, given a lot of spotlight in this film and played a fascinating role in his preceding milestone Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, is his use of miniature models, stop-motion animation, and experimentation with dimensions and sizes. It is very refreshing in an age that's becoming less creatively impressive as its computer technology progresses. It's an effect that is not only entertaining but especially relieving in this time period. Gondry's movies don't acknowledge the concept of time, often shocking us with its stylistic mannerisms and depictions of wardrobe and lifestyle. It's one of the beauitful things happening in current cinema.