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5.1/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.1/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Sweet Dream remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies that feel like dusty artifacts, you’ll dig this. It’s got that specific, slightly creaky rhythm that older dramas possess. If you need snappy pacing or a modern sense of logic, you’ll probably want to bail after twenty minutes.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s got a weird energy. It feels like watching a play that’s been shoved into a camera frame.
The hotel scenes are the best part. There’s a lingering shot of a hallway that feels like it lasts for an eternity. You can almost smell the cheap floor wax and old curtains.
The lead actress looks constantly exhausted, which I think is actually a really smart choice. It isn't just "acting tired." She looks like she’s carrying a backpack full of bricks everywhere she goes. That’s how you sell regret without saying a word.
The guy she runs off with? He’s clearly bad news from the start. I found myself shouting at the screen because his 'businessman' act is so thin. It’s transparent. Like, how does she not see it?
Maybe she does see it. Maybe she just doesn't care. That makes the whole thing a lot darker than I think the director intended.
The dialogue can be a bit of a chore. Everyone talks like they’re waiting for a train that’s never going to arrive. It’s stiff. It’s awkward. Sometimes, though, it hits a weirdly honest note that reminds me of Les Amoureux in the way it handles people being absolutely terrible to each other.
It’s not as polished as The Dressmaker from Paris, but it has a messy, beating heart. It’s a movie that doesn't quite know how to resolve its own plot, and honestly? That’s kind of refreshing. Real life is rarely as tidy as a script. 🏨