8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Overwhelmed, December 17, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: A Dream of Passion [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I saw this film in a theatrical release and have never forgotten its power. This film is a story within a story, showing the effects of jealousy and rage taken to extremes. Melina Mecuri is an actress preparing a production of Medea and is working with a former lover who rejected her for another woman. As research for her role, she goes to visit in prison a woman (played marvelously by Ellen Bursten) who has actually killed her children in a revengeful, jealous rage against her unfaithful Greek husband. Her ordinariness, complete absence of regret and the power of her rage are a facinating combination. Melina, along with ourselves, becomes a horrified witness (in flashbacks) to the children's murder. The emotions evolked were so powerful that I and my companions were literally stunned speechless by this film.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Film is What It's All About, November 30, 2005
This review is from: A Dream of Passion [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I don't want to reveal any "spoilers" about the film, but I do want to make a few clairifications about the previous reviews. This film (which is one of the most powerfrul, emotional movies I've ever seen--notwithstanding I've been in mad crazy love with Melina Mercouri ever since I saw Never on Sunday) is about an actress whose career is in decline (Mercouri), who is doing a film adaption of the play Medea. A publicist discovers that in a local greek jail is an American woman (Burstyn), who murdered her children. "Dream" does a wonderful job of interspersing the Medea plot without beating the viewer over the head about it. Ms. Burstyn's character moves to Greece, doesn't speak the language, doesn't make any friends, becomes lonely and isolated, deeply unhappy. Then the husband sleeps around, and Ms. Burstyn responds by killing the kids. Initially, Ms. Mercouri visits Ms. Burstyn to get "insight" into Medea's character, but is really just engaged in a publicity stunt. Ms. Burstyn has never read Medea, and really doesn't know what the play is about. What surprises Ms. Mercouri (ok--so it surprised me. FINE.) was that Ms. Burstyn did not kill the children out of "revenge," or really even anger.
In the rehearsals of the Medea play, there's a line that Ms. Mercouri and the director always fight over. The husband Jason confronts Medea about killing the kids, how could she do that etc etc., and Medea says "I did it for you." The director wants Ms. Mercouri to spit the line out in ironic, nasty anger. But after meeting with Ms. Burstyn, and hearing Ms. Burstyn's story, Ms. Mercouri says the line tenderly, heartfelt: that Medea really did kill the children *for* Jason. From the perspective of Ms. Burstyn/Medea, Jason/Sleazeball Husband thinks it was a mistake to have married her. So, out of love/duty/regret--any number of strong emotions--to free the husband, to allow the husband to pursue his dreams, dreams that do not include Medea & Family, she kills the children: "I did it for you."
In the Medea of this film, Medea was not acting out of rage, revenge, anger, hate--but out of love. OF COURSE the film is not suggesting this as a practical solution to infidelity. What the film does present--and does an amazing job at this--is that the story behind both Medea and Ms. Burstyn's character is not a simple tale: there are a variety of complex feelings and emotions behind it. What makes this movie one of the best films I have ever seen is the shocking realization that Ms. Mercouri comes to, an understanding of Medea that she had not known.
All that said, this film works for three reasons, two of which are the performances of Ms. Mercouri and Ms. Burstyn (and to be fair, everyone else does their part in holding up their half the sky as well). The third reason why this film works is that the Burstyn character is treated realistically and consistently. She is definately not a monster, but neither is this an "American Movie," where at the end Ms. Burstyn is pardoned, released from jail, and goes on to win the Nobel prize for "Best Person Ever," and lives happily--yet wistfully--ever after. I really hate those movies.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful, Professional, & Intelligent., January 11, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: A Dream of Passion [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I saw "Dream of Passion" on its original release and have never forgotten the riveting and disturbing impressions it made upon me, nor the memorable performances of both Ellen Burstyn and Melina Mercouri as the murderess and the actress. The theme of appalling revenge for a husband's betrayal is as timeless as the beautiful Greek settings in which it is photographed, and creates a gripping tension. An unusual and powerfully acted film, which unfortunately I have never been able to watch again as I have not found it re-released and it appears to be unavailable except in US /Canadian format. I would be delighted if anyone has any ideas on how I could watch it here in Australia! Are there any gizmos which could make it work on my Aussie video player & telly?
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
