Life and death conditions

Rating: 10/10 (2 November 2001)

There have been two American films recently on Stockholm's movie houses that go beyond anything else this year. The first is Memento and the second Requiem for a Dream.
The latter is really getting you involved as a viewer in a way which is painful. After about 75 minutes I felt like vomiting or almost fainting. Not because of the violence or the blood, which isn't extreme, but because of Mr. Aronofsky's (the director's) way, together with the actors, of hooking you and bringing you further and further into an absolute hell. There is a big big rage here. A rage considering narcotics, but also considering our liberty, which draws people down in despair and misery.
This is the strongest film I've seen for years and still a day after viewing it I feel physical weak, thinking about it.
Ellen Burstyn is a genius as an actress, but her young colleagues really have a great future ahead. And so has American film probably.