Movie of the Week - The Dreamers by Bernardo Bertolucci

Bernardo Bertolucci is the legendary director of such movies as "Last Tango in Paris", "Conformist", "1900", "Stealing Beauty" and "The Last Emperor". This week we want to share our thoughts about "The Dreamers" one of his most controversial films.

Bertolucci was inspired to make this movie by Jean Cocteau's Les Enfants Terribles which he first saw at a young age and decided to see it again before shooting. "The Dreamers" is a portrayal of a complicated relationship between three young characters with the historical events taking place at the same time in the streets of Paris. "Three kids get together and while they are exploring each other in the apartment, outside the world is exploding" (Bertolucci's words from one of his interviews). It's amazing how important the cinema was in the Paris of 60's. Everything was connected to the cinema - politics, music, sex, the whole spirit of '68. 

Basically, the story is about an American provincial exchange student who is Paris for a year to learn French. Although he's been in Paris for months, he hasn't made any friends. Matthew is a huge film lover so his biggest pleasure is spending time in the Cinematheque Francaise, that's exactly where he meets Isabelle and Theo twins with idealistic political views who share a very intimate relationship and a lot of weirdness. He is fascinated by their craziness and freedom and quickly becomes a part of their world. 

It's about the time when idealism, cinema, music and sex was all that mattered and the youth was filled with desire to change the world. 

- First it was Jake Gyllenhaal who was chosen to play Mathew but as he was not quite comfortable with nudity director realized it would just complicate the filming process. 

- As Eva Green said in one of her interviews, she was begged by her parents and agent not to take the part because of the nudity and intimate scenes. They thought it would ruin her career. 

The soundtracks of this film are amazing and they make all the scenes so special. Here is the list:

1. "Third Stone From the Sun" - Jimi Hendrix

2. "New York Herald Tribune" - Martial Solal

3. "Hey Joe" - Michael Pitt & The Twins of Evil

4. "Quatre Cents Coups" - Jean Constantin

5. "Love Me Please Love Me" - Michel Polnareff

6. "La Mer" - Charles Trenet

7. "Song For Our Ancestors" - Steve Miller Band

8. "The Spy" - The Doors

9. "Tous Les Garcons et Les Filles" Francoise Hardy

10. "Ferdinand" (from Antoine Duhamel's score of "Pierrot Le fou")

11. "Dark Star" - The Grateful Dead

12. "Non, Je ne Regrette Rien" Edith Piaf