Metamorphosis

Who knew that passion could draw people together? Who knew that passion could create different kinds of relationships? In the film by Bernando Bertolucci, The Dreamers, a young man’s passion for movies was the reason how he met his friends.

Matthew, an American studying in France, spent more of his time watching films which one day lead him to meeting the twins Isabelle and Theo. He directly fell in love with the twins who were also his first friends. As they spent more time together, the greater their friendship grew. When the twins’ parents were away, he stayed at their place which he learned about the twins. He found out that they slept together in one bed, naked. He also found out that they’d bathe together. They twins were too comfortable with themselves as if they were one. He them discovered a game wherein one would suddenly act a certain scene in a movie and wait until someone guesses it or forfeits. A forfeit would then result to doing what the actor asks him/her to do. The game lead to love making; which then lead to the end of their friendship.

The film is character-driven by the three leads. Micheal Pitt as Matthew, Eva Green as Isabelle, and Louis Garrel made a huge impact on the film. Their emotions were felt by the viewers as if they were there. The film’s theme was about setting oneself free. Free from the boundaries built by the norms. Free from people’s judgments. The film was set in France where art is greatly embraced which is also the best place for the film.  The use of sex in the film was truly appropriate as it showed how teenagers would do if they were alone in a house parents free; generally speaking. Music used was also appropriate and it helped easing tensed moments.

Bertolucci’s style is something worthy to be appreciated. It never gave its viewer dull moments as he kept on surprising the viewers by the sudden change of attitudes shown by the characters. If at first we saw a friendly Theo, few minutes later we’d see an irritable one.

The symbolisms of the film weren’t easy to see at first watch as you’d be more focused on trying to see what’ll happen next. But some of which are the following: The lighter which Matthew fidgeted on symbolized that anything, or everything, has a purpose; it fits everywhere if we just looked at it closely or widely as if having cosmic harmony. The seats they used as they watched movies in the cinema showed their passion for the film, wanting it to first pass through them before the others. The time Matthew sat at the back with Isabelle, showed that they were no longer after the film but was after lust, emotions and love. The fact that the three simply locked themselves in a world they’ve made, liberated, which was ironic during their time which was conservative symbolizes the process towards setting themselves free. This could be related with the tent Isabelle built in their house which symbolizes a cocoon. All were the same as they slept but the next day, things have changed. The people no longer settled being mere followers; they saw the people fighting for their rights. They too were also changed. If at first they were against violence and were for love making, it changed when the twins decided to go with it which also leads to their death.

I highly recommend this film for everyone to watch to see a whole new reality which they continuously try to hide. Such things happen and are worth given appreciation and acceptance.