Gilbert Adair wrote the screenplay of the film The Dreamers, who happened to be the one who also wrote its novel The Holy Innocent that was published in 1988. The Dreamers was directed by Bernardo Bertolucci on 2003.
The movie was set in Paris in 1968; civilian demonstrative groups were active and rampant in the streets of Paris. The story primarily revolved around the lead characters; the American named Matthew played by Michael Pitt, the French college student Isabelle played by Eva Green, and her non-identical twin brother Theo played by Louis Garrel.
The title’s meaning is complex. However, the apparent one is of pertaining to the three lead characters, specifically with the twins. They refused to agree to the existing reality during those times and instead lived codependent with each other to the extent of suggestive incestuous surreal lifestyle (Sheenan, 2004).
The film’s elements are able to connect with the theme and message that the film is trying to convey, which is mainly about the awakening of the innocent in dimensional escapism that deluded them away from reality.
An example of the effectual element in the film is the opening credit. The scene picked up the occurrence where Henry Langlois, founder, and head of La Cinemateque Francoise has been dismissed by former minister of culture Andre Malraux. This incident caused a large demonstration that triggered a violent reaction to the French police.
This violent scene is the backdrop of the introductory appearance of the characters. Matthew met Isabelle in the closed cinema. Knowing that they share the same passion and interest, he instantly got smitten by her.
Isabelle then conditioned him to get along as well with her non-identical twin brother Theo, who just appeared by then. The twins decided to go out with Matthew upon learning the situation around them.
This very scene already strongly foreshadows the message of the film through some in-depth interpretation of the elemental discourse and object being used. One is the blindness or the innocence of the characters of the disturbing state of the environment around them.
Had not been through their innocence, they might have opted to be involved in the voices of sides that were active in the conflict in that time instead of seeking a thrill to the immoralities produced by their delusional penchant. Cinema is apparent to be symbolizing the escapism tool with which the three lead characters are inclined to live with.
There is no central theme in the film that had been directly discussed. However, the theme of codependency strongly played all throughout the movie courtesy of the twin, Isabelle and Theo. This is already the bounding conflict, apparent to the disturbing incestuous activity of the twin in the process (University of Pittsburgh, 2008).
There is not much any loose end or loopholes in the film, Adair, however, admitted that the screenplay has become unfaithful to the details of the novel. Aside from the fact that some vital rudiments were reduced and modified, the film has been more became a Bertolucci signature film rather than the film version of the novel.
Works Cited
- “They Always Have Paris”. The Dreamers Review. University of Pittsburgh.Edu. 2008. Web.
- Sheehan, Henry. The Dreamers Review. Henry Sheehan.Com. 2004.