New French film a pure Dream

The Dreamers

Director: Bernardo Bertolucci

Cast: Michael Pitt, Louise Garrel, Eva Green, Anna Chancellor

Cert: 18

Bertolucci's wonderful new film, based on the Gilbert Adair novel, The Holy Innocents, shows what the cinema as an artform is all about: stylish, observant, witty, loving, good-looking, rich in texture.

We are back in the turbulent days of l968 when even the French cinema was in uproar. Into this exciting and often baffling world comes American student, Matthew (Pitt) who is taken up by a brother and sister (Garrel and Green).

The world around them, while important, is relegated as the three work on their friendship and argue about the ways of the world.

This is Bertolucci's most accomplished and thoughtful film for many years, a "small" film in the best of senses in that we are with characters of depth and a story of wit, style and maturity.

It is also a wonderful-looking film, which lifts, empowers and utterly delights.

Star Rating: 5/5