4/5 I dreamt under the water....
  by Christopher Haddon
While at times strange and otherworldly.....and somewhat heinous, I really enjoyed this movie. It was certainly worth the price and I am very pleased.


Thank You.

Christopher Haddon

3/5 i dreamt under water
  by bigboyone (johnson city , tn)
ok, don't like the premise of someone who is gay changing in 2 minutes
to 'straight' , illogical at best.
well crafted except for that
acting was faily well.

2/5 Very dark and plodding French film won't be a favorite for many
  by Bob Lind (Phoenix, AZ United States)
In the 2008 French film "J'ai rêvé sous l'eau" (I Dreamt Under The Water), we follow university dropout Antonin, a bit of a slacker who spends late nights with his musician friends, including the focus of his unrequitted love, Alex. When Alex dies of an overdose, the devastated Antonin wanders aimlessly into habitual drug use and gay sex, eventually starting to turn tricks to put a roof over his head. When a repeat client offers him a job at his video store, Antonin at first declines, but later accepts it when he takes a "time out" and seeks out a reunion with his old friends, through which he meets Juliette, seemingly a kindred spirit but with a dark secret of her own.

This is an extremely dark, plodding film on many levels, including a directorial style that will turn off many viewers. The film has minimal dialogue, and most of the story is revealed by carefully watching the scenes, which the director often chooses to present in very dim lighting or distracting strobes, or with "artsy" double exposures and blurred images. Except for Hubert Benhamdine's role as Antonin, I also found the acting contrived and overdone, for the most part. Mostly French with English subtitles, although the songs are in English. Would be rated NC-17 for graphic (gay and straight) sex. DVD extras only include trailers. In my opinion, this is a disappointing 2 stars out of 5.

4/5 A Personal Journey
  by Amos Lassen (Little Rock, Arkansas)
"I Dreamt Under the Water"

A Personal Journey

Amos Lassen

Antonin (Hubert Benhamdine) is an aspiring musician and video store clerk harbors unrequited love for a fellow band member in TLA's engaging new French film, "I Dream Under the Water". Something happens one night and his love "dies" in his arms and Antonin's world begins to fall apart and he sinks into the seamy Paris nightlife. He is swept into the world of anonymous gay sex, one night stands and prostitution. He meets effervescent and attractive Juliette and they begin an affair but he soon realizes that she is emotionally unstable. At the same time, Antonin's boss with whom he has also been sexually involved begins to show emotional desires for him.
We watch as Antonin tries to make some sense out of his life and the mess he finds himself in. There is no overt sex shown here and that makes this film all the more erotic and dark. It is a playful film at times but it will make you think. The film shows us how hope and love happens when one least expects them to and with the most unlikely of people.
It took me a while to get into the film but after I did I was swept up in it. Benhamdine is a very handsome young actor and he will win you over the first time you see him. The director, Hormoz, gives us an interesting look at Paris and the way the night seems to rule the city.