Requiem

I watched Requiem for a Dream last night. I think I’ve seen all of Darren Aronofsky’s (sp?) films: Pi, Requiem, and The Fountain. All of these films are very good. Shit, the last two are genius. Requiem is an anti-drug movie that isn’t preachy or smug. It doesn’t moralize. In fact, I would that the depiction of drug use, while at times startling, even frightening, is secondary to its success. The film succeeds because it examines the issue of addiction itself; it examines how we think of “drugs,” and how our limited notion of what we can be addicted to affects what we are, in fact, addicted to. Television, prescription drugs, and sex are society’s acceptable drugs; but that doesn’t mean you’re liberated from the dangers of addiction.

It is also one of the most depressing movies I have ever seen, second only to IZO (and for different reasons). IZO’s bloody and bleak nihilism is replaced with tragedy. Requiem stacks tragedy upon tragedy. All of the primary characters meet a tragic fate. And the final tragedy—this isn’t a spoiler—is that none of the characters realize what’s happened to the other characters! They don’t even have the ability to grieve for the sorry state of their compatriots. Their isolation is complete.

If you watch this movie here’s some advice. Grab a couple of your favorite foods, maybe pizza, candy, and a tasty root beer, and eat them after the movie. You will need something to make you feel better, and yes I realize the irony in saying that when talking about a movie on addiction, but loving a thing is not the same as addiction :P