Final Project

Celebrity Profile: Michel Gondry

Abstract:

As a director, Michel Gondry creates imaginative worlds that seem to exist somewhere between the consciousness and the unconsciousness; states of waking and sleeping – better yet, dreaming. These clashes we see in films such as Science of Sleep, Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind, and his new release Be Kind Rewind transform into a surreal, chaotic reality. The audience does not immediately understand what they are seeing and Gondry very well understand the appeal of disorientation. Amongst the jumble of unfolding events that occur in the handmade prop sets that resemble children’s craft project, Gondry tells the stories about the longing for human relationships. His off-the-wall imaginations are often criticized for being puerile and his low-tech version of special effects are also controversial among many film critics. This project will examine why we all love Michel Gondry’s absurd dreams, and what the similar trend in independent films across the globe – I’m A Cyborg But That’s Ok (Korea), Love Me If You Dare (France), Waking Life (USA), etc - tells us (or tells about us).