Um Homem Que Dorme

This criminally underrated 1974 film easily ranks among the likes of "Pickpocket", "Breathless" and "The 400 Blows" as among the greatest films in french cinema. This film chronicles a young man who has dropped from his studies and is trying to distance himself from the world around, but starts finding it increasingly hard.

Shot in black and white, the film feels like a new wave film with it's raw, low budget cinematography, having a grainy and gritty look that punctuates the intense, somber mood of the film. Scenes in darkened areas are reminiscent of noir films in their use of shadow, and the editing is generally quick, sometimes with a musical flow. In addition to the imagery, the story is conveyed through a second person female narrator (second person meaning the narrator is always referring to "you", such as "you do or don't get up"). Interestingly, whenever the situation becomes more anxious and desperate, the narrator's normally flat tone starts to become more panicked, or angry. So while the film may seem initially as just a woman talking about something this man is doing, in reality it does have a, albeit abstract, character arc.

Although at times trying on the patience, this film's style ultimately pays off, creating a completely unique and engrossing experience. The slow, subtle deteoration of the main character's mental state spills into your mind. I was rarely bored while watching, thanks to the powerful imagery and raw, minimalist atmosphere. The detachment our lead is trying to create is perfectly conveyed. The film recreates the tedium and a sort of numb pain, the depravity, desperation and entrapment this attempted lifestyle leads to.

If you want a more traditional narrative, certainly look elsewhere. If what you've read here and in other reviews sounds interesting, than this is probably the film for you.

The man who sleeps is a film from a lonely heart that will let the most lonely person like me love this self observation film.

I reach a point in my that I woke up and just want to experience life, not by sadness but by happiness, and when I stopped everything that bugs me, I found myself alone, and I don't want to return to my sad routine (like if I am in prison in society). I just have myself and deep movies to teach me about life, feel with my pain by a film releasing them and talking and solving them, and when I want to feel happy it make me happy, feeling everything in films, and shows me arts, to see how much life can be beautiful.

But this film is release of everything and every thought I've got in my head in my hole life, it's sad, but it's life at it's most reality. We all want happiness but all that is given to us is sadness, but we will still pursue happiness, and you told me that is this the hole life? I tell you I don't know, because we all try to figure out life, but no one can understand life. So we all have our subjective points of view and we listen to each other to try to emerge them together, but we will never understand life, and we will never appreciate life until we lose it.

Perhaps cinema's final word on loneliness, aimlessness, and withdrawal, strikingly filmed in black and white. You may love it or hate it, but you probably have never seen anything like it (or Paris like this) before. *** out of 4.

Here, a truly great fusion of french cinema and existential meditation. Surely a modern classic ? A tonic for any modern young adult in the throws of angst or severe doubt and questioning about the world. A rite of passage i have observed in many a friend in my own life.

French cinema is in the habit of not letting you down. It thankfully goes all the way when it comes to philosophical comment. It's discourses articulating the feelings you long to, no need, must hear from the world.

Somewhere in the vaults there it sits underplayed. Play this film. So modest, so slight, so grave. The uplifting chant of a culture that knows how to speak. Perec the writer and director, a national treasure for a good reason.

Can anyone imagine a film with a young student,his room and some pigeons ? This is a film which is going to take your breath away. Of course, it cannot be termed as boring. "Un homme qui dort" is surely not for people who guzzle endless quantities of coke, munch umpteen packets of popcorn while watching what they prefer to call "movies". For me personally it was an rewarding visual experience as there are various breath taking images in this film. The black and white photography dates back to 1974 when this film was made. It is true that during those times color films were made. But this film was filmed in black and white in order to heighten the atmosphere related to monotony,dullness. Yeah, for those who have studied French language and literature: This film is based on a book written by Georges Perec. He even collaborated on this film's scenario. A good news for all those who hunt for rare, hard to find videos. This film is available in France with English subtitles.