This provocative movie is packed with intense scenes and complete nudity, but it’s still managed to win over both critics and fans alike
Eva Green’s Bold Film With Shocking Scenes With NC-17 Rating, But Fans Still Call It A ‘Must Watch’
While racy and passionate films aren’t a rarity, there’s one highly acclaimed title that’s turning heads and being described by fans as a ‘must watch’ experience.
When a film gets an 18 or NC-17 rating, it usually signals heavy violence or explicit sexual content. Those kinds of movies don’t often get called ‘beautiful’, and rarely do people urge others to watch them the way they are with this one.
Released in 2003, The Dreamers holds an NC-17 rating for good reason. It includes complete nudity, provocative themes including incest, and moments of violence.
Even with such intense subject matter, the film boasts a strong and memorable cast. It stars Louis Garrel, Michael Pitt, and Eva Green—who is known today for her role as a Bond girl. She once revealed that this was the first major role where she filmed sex scenes.
The storyline leans into both romantic and erotic territory, something hinted at in the movie’s official description: “In May 1968, the student riots in Paris only exacerbate the isolation felt by three youths: an American exchange student named Matthew (Michael Pitt) and twins Théo (Louis Garrel) and Isabelle (Eva Green).”
“Having bonded over their mutual love of cinema, Matthew is fascinated by the sense of intimacy shared by Isabelle and Theo, who were born conjoined.”
“When the twins’ bohemian parents go away for a month, they ask Matthew to stay at their place, and the three lose themselves in fantasy.”
When the synopsis refers to ‘fantasy’, it’s not speaking figuratively. It dives into themes of sex, incest, and includes a scene where Eva Green’s character loses her virginity—right there in the kitchen.
The film exists in two different cuts. One is the full NC-17 version, while the other is a slightly trimmed R-rated edition, with about three minutes of footage cut.
Respected film critic Roger Ebert weighed in on both versions of the film, offering this reflection: “So discredited is the NC-17 rating that Fox Searchlight at first thought to edit the film for an R, but why bother to distribute a Bertolucci film except in the form he made it?”
“The sexual content evokes that time and place. The movie is like a classic argument for an A rating, between the R and NC-17, which would identify movies intended for adults but not actually pornographic.”
A post on Reddit offered glowing praise, focusing on how visually stunning the film is. The reviewer shared: “The thing that grabbed me about this film was for starters the beauty. Bertolucci being an Italian, influenced by new wave french cinema, trying to appeal to a western audience understands the import for beauty. Yet while other director’s find beauty where there is none, for example, a barren landscape or perhaps blood spatter shot in an aesthetically pleasing way, Bertolucci makes beauty essential to the story.”
They went on to say: “This is an excellent film, anyone who hasn’t seen it must.”
One Instagram user shared their admiration for the film, writing: “The Dreamers (2003). Dir. Bernardo Bertolucci. A MUST watch!”
Meanwhile, over on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds a 59% score from critics and a more favorable 78% audience rating. Viewer opinions vary, with some put off by the incest plotline, while others appreciated the film’s sensual style.
One reviewer summed it up by saying: “If it weren’t for these three dazzlingly beautiful people and their constant nudity, there would be nothing beyond beauty and eroticism.”
“Erotic and somewhat artistic, but most of the time cringy!” said another viewer, offering a more critical take.
But there were still fans who were completely taken in. One praised the film, saying: “An absolute french classic !! From beginning to end, the movie will give an everlasting impression.”
Another chimed in, reflecting: “In only 2 hours, this movie made me feel like i’ve lived in their world for the longest time, and this is a feeling i’m not always aware of with other movies.”