Berceuse Hotel
TEAM: Stefano de Feudis – Chifu Lynn
A train for insomniacs
It’s past midnight – of the fourth night.
I had decided to never go more than four nights without sleeping. I book a room at the Berceuse Hotel – wagon 6, room 18.
It will be passing through the usual station in 14 minutes. I am already wearing my pyjamas, I put my coat and shoes on and walk out. I know I’m close to the train station when I stop hearing my steps, there a few meters of sand all along the railway. The train slows down almost to a stop, the door is open. It never completely stops, the others might be sleeping. I get on. I see no around. I go to the wagon with the bar and see a man and a woman sitting there. The light is as low as usual, the color seems different – softer, maybe because the glass top lets the moonlight in.
I enter my room, the QR code updates all that needs to be updated. The light. The temperature. The video and audio choices. I close the curtains and go through the menu.
Science & Neurology – ASMR experience – Whispered audio books – Film – Formula1
The quince tree sun – Victor Erice
Late spring – Yasujiro Ozu
Early summer – Yasujiro Ozu The Sparrow – Youssef Chahine Devi – Satyajit Ray
A friend of mine told me that sleep is not mentioned anywhere on the Berceuse, because they think that the insomniac would feel pressured to perform, i.e. to sleep. Non-insomniacs can be hotel guests as well, he says, because he also comes here (no medical evidence is required, but they are requested not to flaunt their ability to fall asleep / stay asleep). He says it’s a romantic getaway for him and his girl. I have never encountered a couple though, I wonder if they have separate wagons for them.
At 36 minutes circa, I turn the lights off. I watch 40 minutes of the film, maybe 45.
In the morning, I get off two stations early, I enjoy the walk home.