Life Itself Must Test a Person. Michel Franco Discussed Dreams

After presenting Memory at last year’s KVIFF, Mexican director Michel Franco returned this year to talk about Dreams, his latest collaboration with Jessica Chastain. The erotic drama explores a turbulent relationship between an American philanthropist and a young Mexican ballet dancer.

Already in Czech distribution, the film is set in California and offers a critical look at the world of affluent American liberals. “I chose to shoot in San Francisco not only because Isaác Hernández was dancing there at the time, but also because it sidesteps the usual political assumptions. If the story had been set in Texas, people would immediately start labelling – saying liberals are better than Republicans. But I don’t believe anyone can claim to be better than others. Life itself must test a person,” Franco explained, reflecting on the moral ambiguity that shapes his characters.

“Jessica didn’t hesitate, even knowing the part could spark controversy. She thrives on challenges. And I didn’t mind that her Mexican boyfriend in the film behaves badly and makes mistakes. We even included a scene where Mexicans mistreat other immigrants, which is, sadly, based on a real event. About four years ago, around eighty Venezuelans died in a detention centre in Juarez. They started a fire in protest, and the guards just let them burn,” the director said.

Franco had been carrying the idea for Dreams in his mind for eight years. “As a Mexican, I’m deeply concerned about how immigrants are treated in the U.S. – how they’re undervalued despite their contributions to the economy and culture. Initially, the story centred on a young Mexican woman and an American man. I try to make one film every year, and when the time came to decide what my next film would be, I was filming Memory. I was having lunch with Jessica and told her about it. She was interested, so I rewrote the American character as a woman,” the director explained how the film was made. “I added the ballet element later, when I met Isaác Hernández, who many consider to be the best dancer in the world. That gave the character a unique presence among the other immigrants, and it led me to the film’s ending,” Franco noted.

The emotionally intense ending sparked strong reactions during the post-screening Q&A, with one audience member asking why it felt so cruel. “Maybe it’s a bit too direct,” Franco admitted. “But I don’t have much faith in the relationship between these two countries, and I don’t believe in personal relationships built on power imbalance.” As both writer and producer, Franco acknowledged the challenges of his unflinching storytelling. “Sure, a more optimistic film might sell better. But I wouldn’t believe in it – it would feel patronizing. Life is often tragic, especially for people ill-prepared for hardship, like the characters in Dreams,” Franco explained. “A lot of my films are emotionally satisfying in ways audiences aren’t used to. Sometimes when someone says, ‘I saw your movie...,’ I jump in and ask, ‘Should I apologize to you?’” the director smiled.