Michel Gondry and Jean-Michel Bernard, director and composer of The Science of Sleep evoke a 20 year old friendship which has given birth to one of the best Soundtracks of the year.
Mathieu Carratier / Photo Jean-Louis Bompoint

Première/  How did you meet ?

     Jean-Michel Bernard/  We met 20 years ago through the cinematographer of the Science of Sleep, Jean-Louis Bompoint.
     Michel Gondry/  I was sharing an appartment with Jean-Louis in the 18th district of Paris, situated just opposite the one where the film was shot.  I had a portable Hammond organ which weighed no more than 300 kilos and Jean-Michel was often over to play on it.
Jean-Michel /  We really learned to know and appreciate each other with Human Nature in 99.  Michel needed a piece for the scene where Patricia Arquette sings naked in the woods and asked me to compose it.  I ended up recording 2 titles for the film.  Since then, we have been collaborating regularly « en famille. »  My wife sang the song accompanying the end credits of the Science of Sleep as well as another piece.  This allows us not to pay her…

You began working on the music for the Science of Sleep very early…

     Michel /  It’s a story which I wrote.  I thus had more control, autonomy.  I didn’t want to follow the classic procedure where you listen to things after the shooting, doing a sort of casting of composers.  In the same way as one decides beforehand that this person will be the cinematographer or this person will be an actor, I decided that Jean-Michel would handle the music.
     Jean-Michel/  By the time Michel shot the first scene of the film we had already been working on the soundtrack for 6 months.  A rare luxury in cinema.  Consequently, the music and image are intimately related.

Jean-Michel, what did you think after the first reading of the script ?

     Michel /  He took an aspirin.
     Jean-Michel /  Before throwing myself into water…(laughter) I said to myself that this story could only come from his imaginary world.

Michel, why Jean-Michel ?

     Michel /  I like his turn of the century French school style. (laughter)  He’s an exceptional musician with a great sense of melody.  More important, he has no trendiness.  When I shoot a film I flee the flashy and showy.
     Jean-Michel/  He spends his time doing that in his music videos,  so from time to time it’s good to change.  He hangs out with young people all day long.
     Michel/  That’s why I felt like working with old guys. (laughter)  In Jean-Michel’s music there is a very melodic , almost classical side which suited me.  Without being references,  I have seen many comedies from the seventies… but I don’t want to cite names which will tear off your ears.
     Jean-Michel/  Go on, go on…
     Michel/  Cosma.  La moutarde me monte au nez ! (Zidi, 1974)…I was looking for this atmosphere for the dream sequences.  Jean-Michel was the ideal candidate.