Dreams (1955)

Set against the contrasting backdrops of Stockholm and Gothenburg, "Dreams" (1955) follows the intertwining lives of two women navigating the complexities of love, self-respect, and the ticking clock of age. Susanne Frank, a seasoned fashion photographer, yearns for her married lover Henrik Lobelius, who resides in Gothenburg with his family. Meanwhile, the ingenuous twenty-year-old model, Doris, grapples with her own turbulent love affair. Their paths converge when Susanne arranges a photoshoot in Gothenburg with Doris, using it as a ruse to rendezvous with Henrik. While Susanne's pursuit of illicit romance unfurls, Doris crosses paths with the dapper, middle-aged Consul Otto Sönderby. His courtly charm and lavish gifts, including an elegant dress, Italian gloves, and a precious pearl necklace, captivate the young model. The day unfurls like a reel of unexpected encounters. Doris and the Consul share a whimsical afternoon at an amusement park before retreating to his mansion, where their budding romance is thwarted by his spiteful daughter, Marianne. Parallelly, Susanne's clandestine tryst with Henrik is disrupted by the unexpected arrival of his wife. In the wake of these encounters, the women's perspectives on love are irrevocably altered. Struggling to balance desire with dignity, and confronting the stark realities of aging and failure, they find solace in an unlikely friendship. "Dreams" is a poignant exploration of the human heart, its aspirations, and its vulnerabilities, all wrapped in a compelling narrative that is as much about self-discovery as it is about romantic entanglements.

Dreams is a drama movie featuring Eva Dahlbeck.

Dreams is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

It is also possible to buy Dreams on Apple TV and Vudu.