Call for Dreams

Beautifully shot in Tokyo, Japan 'A Call for Dreams' is a psychological intriguing thriller. I enjoyed this film. A total trip out. I definitely can't wait to see more work from Ran Slavin! Cheers to the cast and crew!

This film was recommended to me by a friends, and I'm so glad I decided to watch it! Was a visually gorgeous film! The acting was flawless. The concept unique and intriguing. Big congrats to the filmmakers. Will be keeping my eye out for more of their work!

Call for Dreams is a mystery crime drama written and directed by Ran Slavin. The main concept of this film was about the interpretation of dreams. Eko publishes an ad and then goes to those that have called her for her work. But everything starts to get complicated when dreams and reality cannot be told apart. Moreover, the film is made in such a way that it blends both of these worlds into one single narrative. You can enjoy a distorted dreamlike experience from this film. The visuals are spectacular which also matches the surrealistic storyline. The camera works, editing, lightings along with the neon-lit Tokyo gave the film a blade runner vibe. The soundtrack with electronic score and special effects were also quite good. The whole film was well crafted like a piece of art. This film makes a unique impact on the audience just like Shutter Island, Inception or David Lynch's Twin Peaks. For an indie film, it is a must-watch film if you love psychological drama.

Ah well. In the midst of all the enthusiastic reviews here, it falls to me to be the wet blanket.

I would not say that Call for Dreams was a waste of my time: it was entertaining, on its own terms. But the pseudo-intellectual aphorisms are largely nonsensical (the notion of a "dream dreaming a dreamer" is incoherent); the lead actress delivers her lines in bloodless monotones; much of the "Tokyo" we are shown (and where I used to live) is highly unrepresentative; and the Japanese spoken by the Israeli fellow near the end is largely incomprehensible. Among other flaws.

Events bear little relation to each other, but in an abstract work of art, that need not be regarded as a defect. And as others note, many of the shots are fairly stunning.

We were looking for something out of the ordinary to watch this evening, and in this we were not disappointed.

What can be said about a film that takes all the elements of a fever dream, visually pokes your eyes out and then leaves you with a sense of unease wondering if it was a dream or reality? A little of both? "The dream dreaming the dreamer?" Anyway you slice it, Call For Dreams is a visual masterpiece. Color palates, editing choices, sound design, cityscapes, camera angles... This indie films ambition is overgrown - and damn proud of it! With tones of Lost Highway, Blue Velvet, Enter the Void and other cinematic nightmares, Ran Slavin's sophomore contribution to the world of heightened stimulated filmmaking is an insane look into the mind of a man who understand poetic cinema! If you LOVE David Lynch, Gasper Noe, and truly dizzying storytelling, then I highly recommend this film!