An artwork is created from the artist’s gaze, but what is left of this gaze? What happens to the object of the gaze? Writer-director Anaïs Tellenne grapples with this intriguing question and unique story in her first feature film, The Dreamer.
As the caretaker of an empty manor, the days of one-eyed Raphaël (Raphaël Thiéry) are monotonous; mole hunting and playing the bagpipe, with a cantankerous mother getting her life lessons from a soap opera waiting at home. Not even casual encounters with the local postmistress can light a spark in the man’s heart. But one stormy night, everything changes, as the heiress of the mansion, a well-known artist called Garance (Emmanuelle Devos) arrives.
Art literally comes to life. Depicting the transformation of the rugged Raphaël, Tellenne’s ambiguous narration skilfully combines concepts of classic folktales and contemporary art, sprinkling them with clever references to Marina Abramović-like personal expression. A peculiar atmosphere, where fantasy is mixed with earthy realism and even subtle class depiction, drives the viewer towards quite an ingenious ending.
Milja Mikkola