misunderstood

Rating: 10/10 (16 May 2007)

"The Fountain" is an intensely beautiful film, loved by many (and hated by some) for a variety reasons.
The strikingly original visuals, abstract story line, and indirect manner of revealing the story, makes it something of a Rorschach inkblot of a film. People see in it what they want to see. This is uncomfortable for some people, who are accustomed to simplistic movies that treat them like mindless little children. They may not see anything.
It is not an easy film, but there *is* a simple interpretation that makes perfect sense. The confusion has been exacerbated by bad marketing that is completely misleading. Darren Aronofski has produced a work of genius that the majority of viewers are unwilling or unable to understand. Hopefully this brilliant film will be increasingly appreciated as the years go by.
*** Spoiler ***
For those who want to understand the film better, pay particular attention to the book that Izzy is writing. It is called "The Fountain", and the name is not a coincidence. It is a story of three eras, based on the Mayan mythology of the Tree of Life. You are watching that book. To aid her beloved husband through his grieving, and to teach him what she now knows, she leaves the book incomplete and assigns him a task: finish it.