THE DREAMERS
Year: 2003
USA: Fox Searchlight Pictures
UK: Twentieth Century Fox
Cast: Michael Pitt, Louis Garrel, Eva Green, Robin Renucci, Anna Chancellor, Jean-Pierre Kalfon, Anna Karina, Jean-Pierre Leaud, Jean Seberg
Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
Countries: UK / France / Italy
Language: English and French (part English subtitles)
UK: 115 mins
USA Rated: NC-17
UK Certificate: 18 contains strong sex
USA Release Date: 6 February 2004 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 6 February 2004
Synopsis
From acclaimed Academy Award winning director Bernardo Bertolucci, and set against the student riots of 60's Paris, THE DREAMERS is an exquisite exploration of the adventures and passion of youth.
The year is 1968 and a protest has begun over the ousting of Henri Langlois, the founder of the Cinematheque Francais. Matthew (Michael Pitt, Murder by Numbers, Changing Lanes) is a young American studying in Paris, spending more time at the Cinematheque than he does studying. Amid the chaos of a demonstration in favour of Langlois, he meets twins Isabelle (Eva Green) and Theo (Louis Garrel) and a friendship is born between the three passionate cinephiles. The twins invite Michael back to their apartment and when their parents (Anna Chancellor, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Robin Renucci, Taking Sides) leave the city for a month, they ask him to move in with them.
Although initially surprised by the discomforting physical closeness between Theo and Isabelle, Matthew soon becomes embroiled in their relationship and in the mind games they play. They quiz each other about the great films and filmmakers of their time, but when one cannot provide an answer, they challenge each other into performing daring sexual acts.
As the protests on the street flourish into a revolt of such enormity that they threaten to topple the government, stones thrown through the twins' window smash through their dream-like existence and challenge whether their beliefs and freedoms can exist outside the world of their safe apartment.
Written for the screen by Gilbert Adair and based on his novel The Holy Innocents, THE DREAMERS is an extraordinarily beautiful piece of filmmaking - mixing scenes of old cinema classics, with recreations of these well-known images to astonishing effect.
On DVD, THE DREAMERS features insightful commentary by director Bernardo Bertolucci (LAST TANGO IN PARIS, THE LAST EMPEROR), writer Gilbert Adair and producer Jeremy Thomas, 'The Making of The Dreamers', 'Outside the Window: Events in France May 1968' featurette and the 'Hey Joe' music video from Michael Pitt and his band, The Twins of Evil.
Relive your passion for the cinema and the heady days of youthful exploration and include this modern classic in your collection this October. THE DREAMERS is a film that will stay with you long after you leave the theatre and follow you well into your dreams.
DVD EXTRAS
Certificate: 18 [UK & Ireland]
Running Time: 110 Minutes
DVD Aspect Ratio: 16x9 (1:85)
DVD Sound Quality: 5.1 Dolby
DVD Subtitles: English for the hearing impaired
Commentary by Bernardo Bertolucci, Gilbert Adair & Jeremy Thomas
Documentary: The Making of The Dreamers
Featurette: Outside the Window - Events in France, May 1968
Michael Pitt and the Twins of Evil Music Video 'Hey Joe'