“I Have Dreamed Of You So Much” by Emma Vakarelova, Reflection 4/21/26
“I Have Dreamed Of You So Much” by Emma Vakarelova struck me as both tender and seductive. The obsessive longing in the narrative is perfectly paired with the beauty and richness of the images. As a whole, the film reminded me of David Lynch’s idea of film as moving paintings. Initially a painter, Lynch got interested in film because he wanted to make his paintings move. This moving painting concept perfectly encapsulates “I Have Dreamed Of You So Much.” The combination of the plethora of vivid colors, the majesty of the extremely well-matched music, the humanity exuding from the character drawings, and the simultaneously gentle and overwhelming longing of the narrative combine to make a film about the compulsion of longing for love that exudes undeniable beauty. As much as the sonic elements of the music and narration raise the emotional pitch, “I Have Dreamed Of You So Much” would still be beautifully compelling as a silent film.
