Review by Landscape

In addition to the comments of my previous speakers I want to add that this film is not about love but about childhood. Let me explain, and I will try not to spoil. Stephane was raised up by his father - now he returns to Paris accepting a job offer his mother arranged for him. No wonder he has no pleasure in his 9-to-5-job due to his creative character. So he flies away in his dreams - literally. And believe me - the dreams really rock! It is interesting that his whole dream world is made of materials he finds in his Parisian home where he hasn't been since childhood. So there is a layer of his relationship to his separated parents, perhaps an urge to explore his mothers world, her creative side (sweets wraps, toilet paper kernels etc). In his Parisian home there are different rooms. Most of the scenes play in his childhood room, usually asleep or doing creative work. There are more hints that Stephane is still a child although from his looks you will guess he's 24. Once he asks her to marry him when they are aged 70 - not now, apparently. And the question asked by neighboring Stephanie "Do you mean in it a romantic way?" (Stephane told her that he loves her) is symptomatic: she is far more down to earth, she has a strong sense for reality. Besides: doing creative work she is playful and matches Stephane well. But Stephane has some difficulties separating reality from fantasy. Stephane is all-day-long in a mood near to a dream, like a child. I think, he isn't adult. He is not prepared for love, he has to grow up more. He explores the adult world but he doesn't take part.

A documentation about Michel Gondry is called "I've been 12 forever". I have to watch this movie again and I will focus a bit more on this child layer of the Stephane character - if I'm not lead away by all the fantastic details presented during the way...