Sex, controversy mark film

Bernardo Bertolucci has added another controversial film to his already lengthy list. These films not only push the sexual envelope but also force the viewer to think. Bertolucci touches on events of history through symbolic story lines, while capturing values of his own agenda within the chaos. But his recently released film "The Dreamers" may have broken the mold - negatively speaking. Bertolucci's symbolism seems to cloud his purpose, and - let's get it out of the way - the sexually explicit content, however intentionally innocent, makes the film seem almost absurd to the extent of a soft-core pornography. This review will evaluate the film on two levels - as true cinematic art, and as soft-core pornography. The viewer is introduced to the story through an opening monologue by a young, na"ive American named Matthew (Michael Pitt), who has come to Paris in the spring of 1968 to study French, but the viewer finds that he frequents the local cinematheque more often than learning the culture. Matthew befriends and moves in with fellow French cinephiles - the incestuous siblings, Isabelle (Eva Green) and Theo (Louis Garrel) - while protesting the ban of French filmmaker Henri Langolis. These protests, which are the backdrop of the film, can only be understood after a French history lesson. But to convey the idea, the protest was comparable to those of the U.S. during the youthful protests of the Vietnam War. Bertolucci's themes and sub-plots are well taken, yet the avid lover of soft-core porn would no doubt loathe the plot itself. No one wants a theme to interfere with the various sexual encounters that usually dictate a soft-core pornography. Bertolucci commits many soft-core porn no-no's. The trio often plays a type of film trivia, having to perform sexual punishments for wrong answers - no doubt keeping Mr. Soft-core Pornography on the edge of his seat, waiting to see his sexual fantasies acted out. Matthew's first punishment is to take the virginity of Isabelle. Seemingly an entertaining event for the soft-core porn film buff, however not many soft-core viewers will enjoy seeing the graphic deflowering of Isabelle. Granted Bertolucci wishes to convey a true loss of innocence, but the soft-core porn lover is left with an upset stomach. The trio sits together naked in the bath tub and many realizations are made by the viewer. The viewer sees Matthew's pacifist ideals clash with Theo's political radicalism, while also beginning to see the unhealthy relationship that Isabelle and Theo have as siblings. Yet, Bertolucci ends this tub scene with an unknown red discharge floating to the surface of the water. Matthew is alarmed by this, but Theo calmly states it's that time of the month, as Isabelle laughs. Perhaps it's symbolism, but the uterine lining is not appropriate subject matter for soft-core porn. For the die-hard film buff, Bertolucci's film is a beautiful piece of cinematic art, and watching three youths coming of age is breathtaking. But to try and force mainstream audiences to understand the depths of the film is absurd. In the film Matthew describes film as follows - "It's like looking through a keyhole into your parents' bedroom: you know you should look away but you can't." Bertolucci's film can be described in much the same way. But sometimes you know you should look away, and you do. Cinematic Art Grade: B- Soft-Core Porn Grade: F