An American college student, Matthew (Pitt), pursuing his education abroad in Paris in 1968 becomes friends with a French brother, Guillaume (Garrel), and sister, Danielle (Green), through a shared love of the cinema, while the May, 1968 Paris student riots (which eventually shut down most of the French government) are happening in the background.
Set among the rebellious currents of 1968 Paris, Bernardo Bertolucci's THE DREAMERS centers on three university students who adore the Cinematheque Francaise, and are fascinated by '60s culture--the music of Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, the films of Jean-Luc Godard, and the writings of Susan Sontag and Chairman Mao. Their philosophical conversations about sexuality, love, politics, activism, and the Vietnam War; and their daily activities--going to the cinema, protesting in support of Henri Langlois, lounging around naked, and smoking dope--are a realistic reflection of the mood and energy of that era.
The plot involves Parisians Theo (Louis Garrel) and Isa (Eva Green), a brother-sister team with a strangely intimate connection. They befriend their American classmate Matthew (Michael Pitt), and invite him to stay at their apartment for a month while their parents are on vacation. The trio is so engrossed by their film studies that they act out scenes in an ongoing game of trivia, referencing classics like Sam Fuller's SHOCK CORRIDOR, Godard's BANDE A PART, and Frank Tashlin's THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT. They challenge each other through mind games, deeply personal discussions, and sexual dares. Outside their sheltered apartment, the streets are teaming with violence leading up to the May 1968 Paris uprising. Nouvelle Vague icon Bertolucci weaves clips from classic films into this artful and entertaining movie, while a hard-rock '60s soundtrack adds a palpable edginess.