The Dreamers is
a film about a 20 year-old American college student named Matthew (Michael
Pitt) who comes to Paris in 1968 for a one-year study abroad program and finds
himself captivated by the films played at the Cinemateque Francaise. It is
there that he meets the inseparable twins, Isabelle (Eva Green) and Theo (Louis
Garrel), who entice him into their world of film, sex, and politics.
Interestingly,
each of these characters represents one of the three themes mentioned above.
Matthew, a native of California, represents film by embodying Hollywood’s
explosion onto the French film screen. His appreciation of film is what sparks
the twins’ initial interest in him, and his knowledge of the classics continues
to win their affections, particularly during their games of Charades. Similar
to the protagonist of The Conformist,
Matthew seeks to fit in with his surroundings and many of his actions are
governed by this desire, as well as his desire for Isabelle.
Isabelle
represents sex – a theme explored in many of Bertolucci’s films including, Last
Tango in Paris, The Conformist, and Stealing Beauty. Although Bertolucci is
known for exploring Freudian psychoanalytic theory in his films, this is the
first where we see incest between a brother and sister. At first, Matthew
assumes Isabelle is in some twisted physical relationship with her brother when
he catches the two of them sleeping naked together in Theo’s bed. However, her
naivety and innocence are revealed when Theo pressures Matthew into sleeping
with her and, to his delight, Matthew discovers she is a virgin. Interestingly,
Matthew becomes comfortable with the close relationship Isabelle and Theo
share. It seems he loses his traditional American beliefs and becomes more open
and free.
Finally, Theo
represents politics. Politics is Bertolucci’s main passion other than
psychoanalytic theory. Bertolucci uses Theo to portray the next generation of
Parisian youth. He is aggressively stubborn and confrontational, often seen
arguing with Matthew about the Vietnam War and the current riots in Paris. Theo
also argues with his father in the few scenes where the parents are present.
Perhaps Bertolucci is replicating his own relationship with his father, who he
was known to be in constant competition with.
Overall, Bertolucci
portrays Matthew, Isabelle, and Theo through his two passions; psychoanalytic
theory and politics, to recreate the Parisian youth revolt of 1968.
