Jennifer comes from one of those immensely wealthy American families who give lavishly to the arts and like to see themselves as liberals but get very uncomfortable when outsiders encroach too far into their world of privilege and luxury.
Michel Franco’s film chronicles the blistering affair between a wealthy American woman and a Mexican immigrant dancer – but could have used a bit more nuance.
In his crudely effective new drama Dreams, which premiered in competition at the Berlin Film Festival, he deals in sledgehammer fashion with race, sex and class in contemporary America.
At the local conservatory, where he has been earmarked as a future star, Fernando is shown performing a “Black Swan” routine that seems to mimic his own turbulent relationship with Jennifer.
It’s a moment in an expensive restaurant, in which Fernando starts speaking in Spanish to the waiter and Jennifer, who likes to be in charge of everything, is furious to be left out of the conversation.
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