Vie rêvée des anges, La (1998)

reviewed by
Nathaniel R. Atcheson


The Dreamlife of Angels (1999) A Capsule Review by Nathaniel R. Atcheson

Director: Erick Zonca
Cast: Elodie Bouchez, Natacha Regnier, Gregoire Colin, Jo Prestia,
Patrick Mercado
Screenplay: Erick Zonca, Roger Bohbot, Virginie Wagon
Producers: Francois Marquis
Runtime: 113 min.
US Distribution: Sony Pictures Classics
Rated R: sex, language

Copyright 1999 Nathaniel R. Atcheson

The Dreamlife of Angels features two masterful central performances. The first comes from Elodie Bouchez, who plays Isa, a young and friendly drifter who can't keep a job. The other performance is by Natacha Regnier, playing Marie, a slightly more-stable woman who befriends Isa. The film centers around the relationship between the two women, and also their individual struggles; Marie becomes obsessed with a womanizer (Patrick Mercado), while Isa becomes strangely attached to a young girl in a coma. With a strong sense of artistic ambition from director Erick Zonca, The Dreamlife of Angels is an affecting and sharply realistic look at two pathetic lives. My only real complaint is that the movie comes to a screeching halt in the last twenty minutes, and then putters to a denouement that comes dangerously close to anti-climax. Overall, the picture serves best as a showcase for two amazing young actresses.

Psychosis Rating: 7/10

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           Nathaniel R. Atcheson

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