I Dreamt Under the Water (2008) User Reviews

Style Nearly Overwhelms Substance

[mackjay2 · 6/10 · 13 June 2009]

It's hard to fault a film that shows as much stylistic flair as I DREAMT UNDER WATER. The film's narrative can be somewhat disjointed at times, and confusion can result, but for the most part the film flows in its own comprehensible way. Antonin (Hubert Benhamdine) is a young man in emotional and psychological torment. We first see him playing in a band with the singer Alex (Franck Victor). Both men are exceptionally attractive, beautiful really, and this can almost be a distraction in itself. It sets up a commonly encountered movie fantasy in the viewer's mind, even before the narrative properly begins: what if these two got together? This ends up being not exactly the case, Antonin is obsessed with Alex, and this is the start of his long, painful search for love and sexual identity. When tragedy intervenes, Antonin is sent into full dramatic tailspin. He turns to prostitution, more as a way to lose or find himself than to make money. The sexual scenes are filmed with honesty and they clearly show how intoxicating and drug-like the pleasure can be. Benhamdine throws himself completely into his role. He needs to convey a lot of his character in silent, brooding close-ups and reaction shots. He accomplishes all of this quite well. Other characters (Antonin's mother, his sometime-lover Baptiste, and girlfriend Juliette) are also well handled by very competent actors. This is not one of those poorly acted, badly written gay-themed films that abound on video these days. The main problem with this film is the constant, self-consciously stylized method of filming. Nearly every scene is composed in an artistically creative way and many shots are breathtaking. But it becomes distracting after a while, when every scene is presented in a strikingly different way from the previous one.

Aside from the over-stylization, the film is flawed by a seriously unsatisfactory conclusion. It's as though a crucial scene were missing at the end. Antonin, after all he has gone through, deserves a little more resolution than this. Worth seeing for the attractive and talented lead actor and some striking, if distracting, visuals.

Too Much

[Silitonga · 5/10 · 13 November 2013]

There is no new story actually here. A young man, falling to his best friend and eventually dead because of OD. He felt lonely and some guilty too. He begin enter the dark world. He begin to cruising at the park who filled with gay hungry for rough sex. There was no choice to prevent gang-bang.

The begin to be a hustler too. Well, financial problem is a massive problem too. But, somehow an angle came, his own one of a kind young costumer. He even gave him a job.

The part I most hated is Antonin's (lead character) disrespect and unthankfull to friend and offer him a job and warm comfort. Instead, Antonin even falling again (yeah, again) to a girl who also a hooker. Antonin tried to match them, but it didn't work. I hated so much when he choose the hooker girl instead of his kind friend. Only God know what happen next if that girl also dead because of OD.

Dysfunctionally inconclusive

[sandover · 19 April 2010]

Antoine, a handsome boy in his 20s, falls for a straight best friend who does not reciprocate, and being a junkie exits the film quite early. Enter a girl, who seems to make him happy again, after he has tried living as a rent boy with men, having some familial, financial difficulties. But the girl is a junkie too. The only healthy looking guy in the film, someone Antoine meets as a rent boy, is Baptiste, who even offers him a job, and seems to really care for him. His infatuation with the girl has a self-destructive note echoing the self-destructiveness of his paramours, perhaps Baptiste excepted, who is the only one proclaiming love; and in the end all three end up in a sort of confrontation, the promise of a confrontation that is supposed to echo in the spectator.

For what reason one does not gather. The film borrows avant-garde techniques but not a scenario, falling short on that side: not quite impressionistic, not quite developing characters, it remains inconclusive, not in a favorable way. And that makes it a bit toxic, as if it wants to dwell in an underworld with some clear, good-hearted motivation but in a way the soundtrack betrays it with its pop/rock exposure; not maudit enough, it has stayed underwater longer than it should have. Its dream remains water-bewitched.

Skip it.

[derekph-1 · 1/10 · 16 October 2009]

French film about a twenty-something guy in love with his straight best friend, who dies of a drug OD. Guy supports himself as a rent boy for a while, then falls for a girl, and tries to go straight. She turns out to be another drug addict, tragedy ensues. Amateurish, tedious, self-indulgent and boring. The first half hour is unbearable – impressionistic and silly. Improves a little once it changes to a more conventional narrative style. The photography is awful – long shaky hand-held camera shots, dark red lenses, silly games. Lots of full frontal nudity and some hardcore sex, but not erotic, it's filmed in a gritty, unpleasant way to tell us it's just desperate and sick. These are ugly, worthless people, with not an iota of interest. We learn so little about them that it's impossible to care what happens to them. Who are they? Who cares? Not I. Skip it. (Based on a short film, seldom a good sign.)

This Film Is Hot

[donwc1996 · 10/10 · 4 September 2014]

There aren't many reviews here and for the most part they are negative but apparently these reviewers didn't watch the film I just saw because this film is hot, hot, hot! I never saw so much pee-pee in my life! Aroused pee-pee at that! And the hetero sex is just as hot. This film has it all. Okay, so it has a very depressing premise which is drug addiction and that is not a pretty picture but good gracious who can take his eyes off the male lead who looks like a Michelangelo sculpture! I sure couldn't. And even when the film got so abstract you could not figure out what is going on, the male lead kept my attention because you are just riveted to him and that's what makes a star. And this guy has got it in spades!

Astounding!!!!... an impressive work of art - a gem... a diamond... just a beautiful film!!!

[sinnerofcinema · 10/10 · 16 September 2009]

I could not disagree more with the comment I read on here. yes, this film has style and a lot of it and it should make the French proud, but ALSO, it is deep and have lots of substance- it is moving at times and I do not remember seeing a film with such remarkable sexy scenes. Many times I felt like I was inside a two hour perfume commercial.... but what a beautiful commercial it is. It was like something out of an Obsession commercial - that is how beautiful it was to watch and experience. I found the main characters plight profound to say the least and I could relate to him and his insesant quest for dysfunctional relationships. What was even more touching is how within all the stylistic feel of the film the grim reality overpower us and we get to see the true depressing reality...sometimes there is no good ending and love comes in many packages and u must experience it to the fullest while its hot!.... highly, highly, highly recommend this film.