I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone (2007)
83%RT Audience Score: 74%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 6 nominations
I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone is a film that will leave you in a state of dreamy bliss, much like the swamp-moss-pherics of Andrei Tarkovsky. Tsai’s use of a sombre palette and lack of dialogue creates a dazed fantasy about the power of companionship to revivify. While not as erotic as other films by this director, there is a languid sensuality to the story that is both beautiful and memorable. The glacial pace of the film may test the patience of some, but for those who can take it, this film is highly recommended. Tsai’s visually adept style is written in stone at this point, and this film hardly challenges it, but the peaceful final shot is a reward in itself. In short, I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone is a gorgeous film that won’t disappoint, unless you’re looking for a fast-paced action flick, in which case, you may want to look elsewhere.
I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone” is a movie that will make you feel like you’re in a dream, but not the good kind where you’re flying or eating ice cream. It’s more like the kind where you’re lost in a fog and can’t find your way out. The lack of dialogue and slow pace might make you want to take a nap, but if you stick with it, you’ll be rewarded with some beautiful images. Just don’t watch it if you’re already feeling sleepy, or you might not make it to the end.
Production Company(ies)
Titanus Société Nouvelle Pathé Cinéma Société Générale de Cinématographie
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2007
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):Min, Nan, Malay, Mandarin, Bengali
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2007
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone, 2006, Comedy/Drama, 1h 55m, starring Norman Atun, Lee Kang-sheng, directed by Ming-liang Tsai, written by Ming-liang Tsai, produced by Bruno Pèsery and Vincent Wang, reviewed by Chuck Stephens, Wally Hammond, Anthony Quinn, Tim Robey, Nigel Andrews, Wendy Ide, Ard Vijn, Dennis Schwartz, Jeremy Heilman, Michele Kenner, genre: Comedy, Drama, MPAA rating: N/A, box office performance: $19.1K, budget: N/A, loneliness, longing, injured people, Rawang, Hsiao-Kang, Chinese
Worldwide gross: $226,026
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $323,798
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,833
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 35,311
US/Canada gross: $19,292
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $27,637
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,786
US/Canada opening weekend: $4,377
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $6,270
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,784
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Lee Kang-sheng – Hsiao-Kang
Shiang-chyi Chen –
Pearlly Chua –
Lee-Lin Liew –
Leonard Tee –
Director(s)
Ming-liang Tsai
Writer(s)
Ming-liang Tsai
Producer(s)
Bruno Pèsery, Vincent Wang
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (40) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (5)
I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone-which ends with a vision of fragile and drifting bliss as oneiric as anything in the swamp-moss-pherics of Andrei Tarkovsky-is nothing short of a dream
November 14, 2013
Chuck Stephens
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
November 18, 2011 | Rating: 5/5
Wally Hammond
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Music interlaces the action, which proceeds mostly without words, expression or, regrettably, interest.
November 16, 2007 | Rating: 2/5
Anthony Quinn
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Working from a sombre palette and with little to no dialogue, Tsai crafts a dazed fantasy about companionship and its power to revivify.
November 16, 2007
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Spare an evening, if you feel adventurous.
November 15, 2007
Nigel Andrews
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
While not as erotic as other films by this director, there’s a languid sensuality to the story.
November 15, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Wendy Ide
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
A beautiful movie with a glacial pace, this is definitely NOT one for the impatient. If you can take the pace (in which case this film is VERY much recommended) you will be rewarded with lots of memorable images.
January 23, 2020
Ard Vijn
ScreenAnarchy
A gorgeous film that won’t disappoint.
February 8, 2008 | Rating: B+
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
Tsai’s style is essentially written in stone at this point, and [this] hardly challenges it. [He] is as visually adept here as ever, right up to the film’s peaceful final shot.
January 8, 2008 | Rating: 53/100
Jeremy Heilman
MovieMartyr.com
A subtle, slow-moving presentation of hope and responsibility that will test your patience if you are not a fan of elliptical, dreamlike narratives like those in Tsai’s films.
November 29, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/4
Michele Kenner
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Directors who come up with films with “sleep” in the title shouldn’t be this dull if they don’t want glib comments made about them. Yes, I Don’t Want To Sleep Alone is a snooze-fest.
November 15, 2007 | Rating: 1.5/5
Sam Jordison
Film4
Tsai’s long, static, near-wordless takes may try the patience of some, but fans will be enchanted by his new-found warmth.
November 14, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Philip Kemp
Total Film…
Plot
In “I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone,” Rawang brings injured people to his home and navigates a journey of loneliness and longing with little dialogue, creating a dreamlike exploration of companionship and its power to revivify.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film on Fresh Kernels.
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