07-04-26 The Science of Sleep (La Science des rêves) (2006)

Seen: April 22nd, 2007
Format: DVD
Rating: 6

Surrealism is a powerful thing. It encourages us to look at old things in new ways. It can jog our minds into perceiving new realities, and open up new avenues of creativity or self-realization. At worst, it can simply be confusing or distracting. It's a tricky line to tread.

The Science of Sleep is a beautiful and personal piece. It has a very child-like quality, and in fact that seems to be its point. Our protagonist Stéphane, is trapped in his childish fantasies. He can't really cope with the world as an adult.

Child-like characters are revered in many cultures. We see are the most objective about the world in our childhoods. We've all experienced the wisdom that escapes the mouths of the young. It's generally driven by their evolving perceptions of the world around them, a perception that we can be shown, but not see on our own, as our own adult mental pathways are much less pliable.

Those who can maintain the ability to shift perception as the grow older as often geniuses. They can balance their experience while observing things with an objectivity that belies their years.

The problem with all that in this context is that The Science of Sleep blurs the boundaries between a different objectivity and reality. Some might say that this is where it becomes art. For myself, it becomes muddled.

Stéphane comes across as not merely child-like, but delusional as well. Much of the magic we are shown of his dreams and his reality are tarnished by the very fact that he can't seem to recognize which is which. What starts out as charming ultimately becomes creepy and eventually dysfunctional.

My problem is that I don't know how to reconcile this. This isn't the fantasy inspired world of Brazil. This isn't someone escaping, but instead actively trying to bring their fantasy into reality, and displace reality with something more idealized and palatable. Ultimately, this is an avoidance of the human condition, where the pursuit is what we truly value.

This is all really abstruse. You might enjoy this just for its child and dream-like qualities. You may enjoy to performances, which are very good. Perhaps you can identify with one or more of the characters. But, I for one want to connect with the protagonist in some way. I can do that in a few ways, but in others, he's the last person I'd want to talk to.

The Good: Honest and unflinching surrealism

The Bad: Fantasy

The Ugly: Disconnection is a double edge sword