When faith becomes knowledge

Rating: 9/10 (26 January 1999)

The stark black and white transparency film used to shoot this Sundance Festival winner facilitates the viewer's transition into the dream-like world where imagination, faith, and the search for scientific knowledge, all meet. Once we have been absorbed into this nether world that lurks on the edge of "normal" reality, we are offered a 1990's version of the Faust legend in which the price of ultimate knowledge is not loss of one's immortal soul to the Devil, but loss of sanity or even life. The presenting question is whether and what mathematical patterns govern our seemingly random existence, and the film suggests that there is a pattern even in the search for such knowledge -- as characters representing basic science, corporate power, and traditional religion, all demonstrate similar frightening (and equally ambiguous) behaviors in their different approaches to knowledge.
There are a few flaws in the plot which demonstrate that we are witnessing the art of people who have more talent as young film makers than specific knowledge of either religion or science. A research budget for the screenplay would have helped - but the movie was made without money for such niceties. The film's ability to raise serious questions about its subject matter even with these flaws is a testimony to its power. We look forward to the future work of director, writer, Darren Aronofsky -- and writer, actor, Sean Gullette.