Che? AKA Diary of Forbidden Dreams

5.4/10
Drama
1972
1h 54m
PG

Diary of Forbidden Dreams (1972) — also known as What? (Che?) — is a surreal and provocative European comedy‑drama directed by Roman Polanski. This cult classic stars Sydne Rome and Marcello Mastroianni, following an American woman’s mysterious journey through a dreamlike villa filled with eccentric characters, symbolism, and psychological depth. Blending satire, fantasy, and avant‑garde storytelling, the film explores themes of desire, identity, and freedom in a visually rich

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Drama Comedy

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Diary of Forbidden Dreams (1972), internationally released under its original title What? (Che?), is a provocative and surreal European comedy‑drama co‑written and directed by Roman Polanski that defies easy categorization. The film stars Sydne Rome as Nancy, an adventurous American woman whose journey through a difficult, almost nightmarish experience becomes both a psychological odyssey and a social satire. After narrowly escaping an attempted assault, Nancy seeks refuge in a grand, Mediterranean villa where she encounters a bizarre ensemble of guests — from the hedonistic and world‑weary Marcello Mastroianni to the eccentric Hugh Griffith, among others — all caught up in a dreamlike world that blurs the line between reality and fantasy.

Rather than a conventional narrative, Diary of Forbidden Dreams uses absurdist episodes, surreal encounters, and symbolic interactions to explore themes of desire, freedom, alienation, and the unconscious mind. The villa setting becomes a stage for a series of erratic and sometimes nonsensical events that echo influences from avant‑garde cinema and European surrealism, drawing comparisons to the works of directors who challenged narrative norms. In this strange space, Nancy’s struggles evolve into a commentary on the cultural tensions between personal liberation, sexual politics, and the restless search for meaning in a world marked by excess and confusion.

Critically, the film polarized audiences and reviewers on release. Some appreciated its bold experimentations and symbolic imagery, whereas others found its lack of a cohesive plot and unconventional structure bewildering. Legendary critic Roger Ebert famously critiqued the film’s incoherence and uneven tone while noting Polanski’s ambitious attempt to subvert cinematic expectations. Despite its mixed reception, Diary of Forbidden Dreams remains a cult curiosity — an artifact of 1970s European cinema that challenges narrative conventions and invites deep analysis of the subconscious forces at play in human desire and dream logic.

In the realm of cult and surreal cinema, Diary of Forbidden Dreams occupies an intriguing niche — a film that rewards viewers who seek symbolic richness and artistic audacity over straightforward storytelling. Its layered imagery, enigmatic characters, and Polanski’s idiosyncratic vision make it a topic of ongoing analysis among cinephiles interested in film history, experimental narratives, and psychological cinema.