After first becoming well-known for directing inventive videos for artists such as Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers, the White Stripes, Bjork and Kylie Minogue. He made the transformation to the realm of feature length motion pictures as his first two films were both from scripts by the inimitable Charlie Kaufman. Though Human Nature, which starred Patricia Arquette, Rhys Ifans and Tim Robbins, received a somewhat lukewarm reception, it was Gondry's follow-up that really helped him put his unique mark on modern filmmaking.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which stars Jim Carrey and deals with themes surrounding love and memory, is a singular and surprisingly emotional movie that many will count amongst their favorites of 2004. Now, along with a science-fiction feature starring Jack Black called Masters of Space and Time, Gondry is ready to follow up the superlative Eternal Sunshine with a project he wrote himself.
The Science of Sleep, which will center around the protagonist's attempt to conquer his dreams, will incorporate all of the ideas and techniques that the director has used so far in both his video work and in his full-length features. Gondry says that the story will focus on a hero who "can't wake up any more because the people in the dream don't want him to leave the dream, and they hold him as a hostage." In keeping with the oddities typical to a Gondry production, he also notes, " There's a guy who commits murder in his dream but with an electric shaver. An electric shaver becomes huge and shaves everything in sight."
Two of the stars of Human Nature, Arquette and Ifans, are already aboard in two of the primary roles. Also on hand is French actor Alain Chabat, who recently played Julius Caesar in the popular Asterix and Obelix series of films. Production is planned for 2004, and the film is likely to be part French and part English. (Kim Hollis/BOP)
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