The Science Of Sleep

Michel Gondry again displays astonishing visual style in this romantic fantasy following the attempts of Stephane (Bernal) to reconcile his burgeoning dream-world and a harsh reality in which he struggles to win the affections of his neighbour Stephanie (Gainsbourg). This is Gondry's first attempt at adapting his own screenplay and it occasionally suffers from uneven plotting, depending on commendable performances by Bernal and Gainsbourg to provide emotional depth whilst an inspired turn by Alain Chabat, as Stephane's chauvinistic co-worker, supplies laughs. It may lack the inventive storyline of 'Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind' but this is Gondry the artist unleashed, and the frequent forays into Stephane's surreal dream world are both arresting and enchanting. A sumptuous cinematic feast. [Colan Mehaffey]