
Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
Dreams from Strangers is about an Italian swimmer competing in Russia who falls in love with a translator.
Massimo (Giuseppe Claudio Insalaco) meets Vladimir (Daniel de Rossi), a Russian working for the competition as a translator. The two men start hanging out and fall in love. As they get to know each other, Massimo becomes concerned about the blatant homophobia that’s allowed to persist in Russia. Can their romance survive in a culture that does not accept their love?
Some Thoughts:
Dreams from Strangers is a beautifully shot piece of cinema with some decent acting and a story that flows well. There are bits of silent film thrown in to highlight the story that some people find unnecessary, but it didn’t bother me.
Although I found the film engaging and well-paced, the instant romance between Massimo and Vladimir is a stretch. Valdimir lives in a country where violence against gay men is tolerated, so wouldn’t he be more skittish about coming out to a stranger? It’s also strange that Massimo is in Russia for a swimming competition, yet we never see him practicing, competing or talking to his coach.
Insalaco and de Rossi have a great chemistry that makes their romance work. Also, the dialogue never feels forced. The eye-catching cinematography and pacing make this an easy film to relax into, which makes the sudden jump from friends to lovers a bit jarring. A gradual romantic progression would have allowed for some foreshadowing about the violence seen in the second half.
Despite its flaws, I still enjoyed the film.
The Final Verdict:
Dreams from Strangers is a beautifully told gay romance set in a political climate that does not accept LGBT people. It’s heartbreaking and still relevant today.
There are images of violence against gay men, so you may want to skip this if that’s a trigger for you.