Movie Review: Sweet Dreams
Screening as part of the European Film Festival between 10-20 October 2024.
One-liner: Iconic performances, striking visuals and a lush soundtrack compel this poetic, powerful and unsettling historical drama.
Sweet Dreams is a strangely beautiful historical drama that takes aim at the colonial era in Indonesia. While this hypnotic film has some parallels with the colonial-era drama, The Nightingale, there’s a subversive dark comedy undertone that separates the two with satire. This provocative absurdist take is visually-striking, creating a fickle tone that borders on the artful horror and dark majesty of Julie Taymor’s Titus.
Written and directed by Ena Sendijarević, Sweet Dreams immerses audiences in a series of catastrophic events following the death of a Dutch sugar plantation owner. Leaving his estate to his illegitmate son, an attempted quick sale of the island ushers in rising tension between the would-be owners and locals.
While the cast are relatively unknown, they have gravitas and power through with strong performances. Hayati Azis is central to the story as the housemaid Siti, whose son forms the crux of the dispute. As Agathe, Renée Soutendijk takes on a similarly weighted role to Jessica Lange in Titus, while Lisa Zweerman and Florian Myjer are both iconic as Cornelis and Josefien. Rounding up the main cast is Muhammad Khan as the frustrated yet spirited rebel, Reza.
Each suffering some form of emotional or mental duress, the exploitative colonialists spiral into a maddening state, drunk on power. The servants are filled with spite, yet muddled by their unhealthy bonds with their masters while the young boy at the centre of it all, discovers and leverages the dualities of his complicated standing.
“Well, my dear, in Holland…”
Being set during colonial times, Sweet Dreams has a strong focus on themes around exploitation, greed and the oppression of indigenous people. Adopting a poetic approach, the sound and visuals are heightened to create stark contrasts on the back of rich symbolism. Instead of a straightforward historical dramatisation, much like its title Sweet Dreams opts for a surreal and unsettling undertow.
Sweet Dreams has a compelling, layered and vivid soundtrack that reinforces the humidity of the mosquito-infested island. Coupled with artful production design and ornate visuals, the drama has an ugly/beautiful quality as it hovers precariously over the chasm between the haves and the have nots.
This is an evasive, poetic and thought-provoking period drama that makes a refreshing change from down-the-line historical dramas. A visually-arresting piece that combines elements of dark comedy and elevated horror, Sweet Dreams is a challenging viewing experience. Backed by sharp performances, stunning visuals and an intoxicating soundtrack, its powerful themes and artful appetite make it a silky and sickly affair.
The bottom line: Intoxicating
