Neon Dreams: LIGHT SLEEPER (1992) – Presented on 35mm!

 

 

Neon Dreams is thrilled to present Paul Schrader’s underrated opus, Light Sleeper. Returning to the same rain-slicked streets as Taxi Driver, Schrader delivers his signature urban tale of isolation and violence, but this time with a twist. Shot with lush cinematography by Ed Lachmann (True Stories, Less Than Zero) and presented on a rare 35mm print.

 

 

Set in the midst of a New York City garbage strike, Light Sleeper follows John DeTour (Willem Dafoe), a high-class drug dealer working for Ann (Susan Sarandon) who runs an operation out of her apartment. Battling a midlife crisis and bouts of insomnia, he prowls the streets at night while nursing the loss of an old flame (Dana Delaney). When he becomes involved in a possible drug-related murder case, he may get a chance at redemption.

 

 

Romantic, dreamy (Schrader has stated that the idea literally came to him in a dream), and surprisingly hopeful, Light Sleeper is a film bathed in moody vibes and a deep sense of humanity. While not as celebrated (or nihilistic) as Taxi Driver, it’s a perfect companion piece to it and an absolute must-see for fans of intelligent and emotionally-driven neo-noir thrillers.