an explanation much simpler than most imagine?

Rating: 8/10 (30 April 2007)

this movie, and its' plot, can be much simpler (and full of sense) than most seem to imagine. and if it has a perfect sense, a good explanation, and a reason behind all the plot, than I believe it cannot be other than as follows: in the end, Donnie chooses to die (that is obvious). why? because, if not, the whole "path" presented to him (and to us) would lead to much worse (death, of his girl, of his mother and little sister, of frank). there are also some good parts that come along that path (I choose the word "path", but it could be called any other way - variant, alternative etc.), as, for example, the exposure of the child pornographer, and even the short love story between Donnie and the girl). but, obviously, the "goods" do not even closely match the "wrongs". so, Donnie chooses consciously what everyone else with a conscience would, meaning his death instead of all the wrong things that would come on the alternative he is presented with. and his choice is not an anomaly in itself, that's what the movie is trying to say. for that, the key lies in the short talk between Donnie and his physics teacher, when he says that changing the future is not wrong, as long as it is still on God's way (I can't remember the exact quote, but I recall that was the meaning). the rest, the "time travel" philosophy is of course unconvincing from a scientific point of view, but that does not necessarily count, as it can be seen as only a metaphor. and, also, "the world coming to an end" does not have to mean "the whole world", but maybe Donnie's world. he saves his world through personal sacrifice. that is of course not scientifically possible, and there remain lots of unexplained questions about how it is possible, but I must repeat that this is not the point, that a perfectly logical explanation is not necessary in art, or else we should renounce on every metaphoric form of expression.