A disturbing and memorable cinematic experience

Rating: 9/10 (1 September 2014)

Disturbing. I suppose that's the best summary of my experience, watching Darren Aronofsky's 'Requiem For a Dream' for the second time. This stylish drama has a great deal to give in terms of style and story.
Basically, the film's about four people dealing in their own way with an addiction. Harry (Jared Leto), his companion Tyrone (Marlon Wayans) and his girlfriend Marion are heroin fiends, trying to scrap enough money together to escape from it all. Television is Sara Goldfarb's (Harry's mother, Ellen Burstyn) drug, and thinking she's going to be on a game show, she is determined to lose weight and begins a pill-diet.
On the surface, addiction is central in this film. But honestly, I think 'Requiem for a dream' isn't about addiction, but rather about trying to get away from it all, alienation, an escapism which creates a division between the real world and the dreams. All four drug-addled characters strive to escape from reality, which they almost seem to achieve but then fall back into the real world. Sara wants to lose weight so she can wear her red dress and feel younger again. Aronofosky covers these interesting human themes with the motive of drug addiction, and that makes it a very sad film. This film stays with you, and Aronofsky gives you this lasting impression with the great climax. The naturalistic plot of deterioration has a shattering climax, enhanced by the soundtrack. Everything comes together, it is a climactic mix of drama, horror, sadness, relief, acceptance.
Aside from the story, 'Requiem for a Dream' is even more about atmosphere. extreme close-ups of the characters' sweaty faces, long tracking shots and time-lapse photography create an atmosphere of mystery, sadness and tragedy. Aronofsky shows the characters isolation via these devices: Harry and Marion are lying together but the close-ups only show one character; In one of the most impressive scenes of the film, the time-lapse technique shows a lot of people hovering around Sara, while she wanders around the city, isolated. Furthermore, Burstyn's acting performance is just at the right level, the soundtrack is excellent and I mean to give a compliment when the film reminded me of a certain Stanley Kubrick.