This film, directed by Michel Gondray and starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Charlotte Gainsbourg is many things. In turn it is surreal, hilarious, silly, inventive, banal and thought provoking. But more than anything it is an inspiration to crafters!
The story revolves around Stephane (played by Bernal) a socially inept Mexican living in Paris yet unable to speak French (this is a transparent excuse to shoot the film mostly in English, to give it a better chance of success in English speaking countries). His main characteristic is his inability to differentiate between reality and dream. This is where the craft inspiration comes in. His dreams take place in a wonderful world of cities made from cardboard tubes where felt boats sail across seas made from re-used cellophane sweet wrappers......
I saw this film the other day! It was recommended by my brother, who makes all kinds of weird and whacky handmade toys. I saw it reviewed somewhere and their major critisism seemed to be that it was hard to tell what was a dream and what was real in many places, but I thought that was kind of the point. Anyway, I thought it was a really sweet film. Actually I'd kind of like to see it again.
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