Jessica Chastain takes center stage in Michel Franco’s latest psychological drama, Dreams, which competes at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival. Known for his stark, clinical storytelling, the Mexican-born director follows up his acclaimed Memory with another unsettling and thought-provoking film that lingers long after the credits roll.
Chastain plays Jennifer, a wealthy San Francisco socialite whose father’s foundation funds arts initiatives in Mexico City. Through this, she meets Fernando, a ballet dancer played by Isaac Hernández. The film opens as Fernando, who was deported from the United States in 2013, makes a perilous journey back, crammed in a truck with other undocumented immigrants. When he arrives at Jennifer’s upscale apartment, their relationship unfolds through a mix of present-day interactions and flashbacks, revealing intense, intimate moments.
Jennifer’s motives remain ambiguous. Is she in love, or is she simply playing with him? The film offers no easy answers, keeping her emotions just out of reach. Her father disapproves, tolerating her philanthropy but warning, “I’m happy that you help immigrants, but there are limits.” As Fernando earns a spot at the prestigious San Francisco Ballet Company, it seems like he might finally achieve stability, yet Jennifer’s need for control casts a shadow over their relationship.
Hernández, a professional ballet dancer, delivers a mesmerizing performance, particularly in a sequence where he dances the pivotal scene from Swan Lake, embodying a prince seduced by the Black Swan. His chemistry with Chastain, who once again commands the screen with quiet intensity, adds layers to Franco’s intricate narrative.
Franco does not shy away from addressing the tensions between the United States and Mexico, a timely subject as immigration policies shift under Donald Trump’s renewed presidency. The film subtly but powerfully acknowledges the harsh realities faced by migrants, depicting detention centers where desperate voices cry out: “We’re only immigrants, not criminals.”
As Dreams approaches its final act, it treads risky narrative ground, taking bold turns that may divide audiences. Franco, however, remains committed to his signature style—delivering icy, emotionally charged storytelling reminiscent of his earlier work like Chronic. The film’s conclusion is as unsettling as its premise, ensuring it will sit heavily with viewers long after they leave the theater.
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