Chris Garneau - "Relief"

I remember seeing him sing this live last year. I felt as if me being in front of that stage, him singing this song, and the silence among the crowd spoke volumes. It amazes me how a song will come into your life at the most random moments and form a connection where words and thoughts fail. It’s quite difficult to explain. It’s something that needs to be felt.

Movie Review: The Science of Sleep

Initially known for his odd yet visually stimulating music videos for musicians the likes of The White Stripes ("Fell in Love with a Girl"), Rolling Stones ("Gimmie Shelter"), and Bjork ("Bachelorette"), director Michel Gondry, in the eyes of many, is clearly on a path toward cult status. In recent years, he's stepped away from the music scene to direct movies such as Be Kind Rewind and 2004's hit Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Both movies follow Gondry's unsystematic style of directing which walks the fine line of artistic{readmore}expression and utter absurdity. That said, it's no surprise that 2006's The Science of Sleep is made in that same manner.

The Science of Sleep follows the disjointed life of protagonist Stephane (Gael Garcia Bernal). The film opens within a dream of Stephane's in which he is hosting his own cooking show on Stephane TV. He's making a recipe for dreams, which calls for "a handful of reminiscences, the day's musical choices, and enough spaghetti for two." This scene brings forth the first notion that our protagonist has a problem maintaining a firm grip on reality. Stephane finds himself back in France after the death of his father. His mom has lured him to the country with a job offer that will employ his artistic ability. The job turns out to be nothing more than a lie his mother uses to bring him closer to her, and Stephane finds himself working a dismal job he has no passion for. Soon, he finds love with a woman, Stephanie, who lives next door, and the two embark on a relationship that is as fragile as it is destructive. The two connect creatively, but are both too naïve and vulnerable to carry the kind of relationship each yearns for. As they become closer, Stephane finds himself falling into his dreams more often, and his ability to discern reality from fantasy becomes increasingly difficult. His sensitivity and petulance become more exposed, and gives way to the fact that he is severely tormented by his inadequacies and overall fear of meaning nothing to everyone. This foils the volatile relationship between the two young lovers, and although it's clear that they were made for each other, it simply cannot be.

Gael Garcia Bernal brings forth another brilliant performance in the film, proving that his acting isn't limited to the Spanish language (see Y Tu Mama Tambien and Motorcycle Diaries). Through Stephane, Bernal makes it possible to see ourselves in times of defenselessness. In the opening of The Science of Sleep, we find Stephane's dreams to be funny and even charming, but as the plot develops, we truly see how trying it is for him to distinguish what is real from that which isn't. Scenes that once held elements of humor become more painful to watch, as the viewer is subjected to the unraveling of a protagonist who wants nothing more than to live out the dreams he finds himself trapped in. The viewer will suddenly find their laughs replaced with a morbid fascination of the inner workings of Stephane's psyche. It's director Michel Gondry's way of expressing that we as humans in times of difficulty find ourselves escaping to a comfortable place among our imagination. It is our escape from reality, but should not be looked upon as a resolution to our troubles. That very escape can just as easily allow us to become a prisoner of our own thoughts.

Due to Stephane's frequent treks through reality and dreamscapes, the film can be quite hard to follow at times, but it is made this way to emulate the same confusion Stephane is feeling. Rather than using multi-million dollar special effects, Gondry employs the use of stop-motion animation and random materials such as cellophane, cardboard boxes, and paper mache to achieve an overall look that exudes an air of sophistication and art. The visuals are never too overwhelming and are just as essential to the film as the storyline. Sundance reviewer Karina Longworth put it best when she said, "Gondry tends to make movies for two kinds of people: sad-eyed boys with fantastic record collections, and the art school girls who want to make out with them. The Science of Sleep is essentially a hipster wet dream." If you are not one of those two kinds of people, do not fret, as there is something for everyone to discover in this film. If one night you find yourself in the mood for an engaging piece that strays a bit from the conventional, check out The Science of Sleep. Even if you don't find yourself in that kind of mood, check it out anyway. The plot and depth of each character is not presented on a silver platter, allowing the viewer the freedom to make what they will of what is presented on the screen... a rarity among many modern films. The Science of Sleep allows viewers the pleasure of walking away with an individualized experience that will still play out long after the film has ended. Gondry has served up a great piece for both the film enthusiast and the average watcher, and really, what more could you ask for?