There are few films that I can think of that portray the dirty and polluted world of drug culture as something that is lambasted and frowned upon. Most “stoner” movies will often encourage the behavior, mostly through more harmless types, but it has gotten to the point of films glamorizing the lifestyle. But then we have a film that takes a sharp turn in the opposite direction; showing us the bleak, albeit heightened, reality that comes from hard drug use. This isn’t a movie that you can watch for a purely entertaining escapism, rather, it is one that dares its audience to question the world around them, to highlight the seedier underbelly of the suburban lifestyle, providing a commentary that perpetuates an inescapable message of excess and its inevitable destruction. This movie has been a nagging force at my mind for some time, but only recently have I been able to sit down watch it. The famed director, Darren Aronofsky, is one that I am familiar with. I had previously viewed both “Black Swan” and “The Wrestler”, two films that deal with the darker undertones of fame in an utterly soul-shattering experience, but “Requiem” is one that I was told goes even further with it depression-led structure. Even with the heralded warnings from various people, it only made me want to see this more. This film does not hold back, it does not want to hold back, it is something that is truly artistic and is bound to leave an impression on even the most jaded of personalities. This is Darren Aronofsky’s “Requiem for a Dream.”
This tale of excessive drug misuse focuses on various interconnected story-lines, with the main focus being placed on a young man named Harry (Jared Leto), who is deeply set in the world of hard drug use. Harry is tied to his fellow addict friend, Tyrone (Marlon Wayans) and his equally drug-craved girlfriend, Marion (Jennifer Connelly) who all live together, partaking in whatever drug they can and selling it on the streets. Harry moves out from living with his mom (Ellen Burstyn) who is given an opportunity to appear as a guest on her favorite fitness show, but she needs to lose weight, fast. She becomes desperate and decides to take pills to lose the weight more excessively, this destroys her mental health as she begins to over-medicate, falling into a pit of loneliness and frenzy. Meanwhile, our main trio begin to delve further down into financial strife, meaning they must resort to other means for the drugs they crave so much. Harry pushes even further with his drug addiction to the point of damaging his arm as it starts to decay and rot. Tyrone becomes involved in a drug operation that almost has him killed as he reflects on the disappointment he feels towards himself following the death of his mother. Marion begins to perform sexual acts, just so she can get that fix, basically becoming a prostitute in the process. The lives of these four characters spiral downwards on a never-ending hell-trip. In this film, there is no happiness to be found.
As is typical of drug-focused films, the main characters are portrayed as young adults. All three of the main stars are given some type of conflict that they are meant to overcome, but none of them ever truly escape the situations that they have led themselves to. We aren’t given any backstory to how these characters found themselves in these scenarios, just that they are junkies. Quite honestly, that’s all you really need to know. You can easily find your own reasoning for why they are the way they are, it’s more about representing the fundamental structure of how drugs can ruin a person. Harry is more self-centered with a warped view on the world. Though he does have a deep love for Marion, she is more there to personify his addiction; she is the harshest drug in his life. Marion is the character we see fall the furthest as we watch her devolve into more excessive means to satisfy her cravings. Never does the movie romanticize the sexual acts she performs, it portrays it in an honest and uncomfortable way that you can’t help but feel the same sense of entrapment. Tyrone is the only member of the group that is given the slightest hint of a backstory. His connection to his mother, who he feels like he has let down, gives him a more personal portrayal, not wishing to treat these characters as complete degenerates, but rather, to highlight how far you can fall into these addictions.
“Requiem” is not a film layered in subtlety. It’s a movie with a clear-cut message about the dangers of drug culture and how it can effect and change the lives of anyone. As much as the main focus is placed on the young trio, I find the story of Harry’s mother, Sara, to be the most harrowing. Sara is portrayed as the typical, lower-class doting mother that only wants the best for her son. She’s lonely, as her husband has passed away and Harry has moved out, and she is desperate for some form of recognition. This opportunity arises for her to appear on TV and she couldn’t be more thrilled. Watching this sweet old woman degrade herself into a drug-addicted personality becomes more and more distressing. She is a victim to both the reality that she is isolated from the ones she loves and the idea that you need an ideal image to flaunt at the world. All this is totally lost on her, not realizing that she is slowly becoming a junkie. I was placing all my bets on the idea that she may be the one character that could escape from this hellish reality, but this is not a film that wants that idyllic outcome. Even an elderly and harmless woman can bow down to the dark underbelly of the drug world. The hallucination scene that she goes through later in the film encapsulates the mixture of fear and utter madness that Aronofsky is trying to portray. What could easily be viewed as an entertaining drug-trip scene in any comedy is shown to be a never-ending nightmare of constant bombardment.
This film really doesn’t want you to feel like there is a way out. Aronofsky is relentless in his pursuit to remind us of the horrors of the world. A simple word to summarize the tone of the film is “depressing.” There is never a moment where you feel like the characters are going to come out of this in a better place, it’s a non-stop decent into a dark pit. Some may look at the message as excessive, but that’s what entices me, personally. As grim as the movie is, it is trying to promote a better message of caution, dissuading those who are fascinated by that lifestyle. Aronofsky portrays this through his daunting cinematography that lingers on the disheveled characters, mixed with the fast-paced editing that leers over the drug scenes. These technical aspects are serving a purpose; to realize the effects of drug-use for an unfamiliar audience. Blanketed over all of this is the haunting soundtrack, creating a desperate atmosphere of entrapment. I can best describe this entire film as an internal prison full of madcap inmates; you want to escape, but can’t help but keep your attention on them. The final act is purely fascinating as we are left at the merciless hands of the director and editor. If you are left with any other feeling besides exhausted, then the movie is probably lost on you. No matter what, it will leave an impression on you.
This is probably the hardest film I have to debate on recommending. This is certainly not a film for a casual mindset. It’s incredibly dark and dismal and you won’t feel the same coming out of it as you did going in. The performances of every actor involved are far above what I had expected, especially from those of Leto and Wayans, who I am not usually partial towards, but they thoroughly impressed me. The stylistic choices mixed well with the seedy atmosphere and story. It is a film that is truly captivating from start to finish, and you can’t help but get wrapped up in this constant decent into madness. The film will leave you desperate for even the smallest sign of hope and enjoyment, but there’s always a moment that will kick you back into your place to remind you of how the world really works. This is one of those movies that reminds me of why I love this medium so much. Much like the other Aronofsky films I mentioned, it left me feeling changed, with a newer outlook on how far a film can be pushed. I have not viewed this movie much more than a couple times, but I viciously captivated by every second of it. In it’s short time it has entered my life, I can safely place it amongst my favorite movies ever. To go back to the point of recommending it, only watch this if you want a film that is artistically-driven and one that you’re not simply there to watch for a fun way to kill some time. It will open up those emotional barriers. If this applies to you, then check it out.
Side note: I watched this and “Grave of the Fireflies” almost back to back. I don’t recommend doing that. I need something dumb and fun, I feel destroyed.
Written review by C. Johnson.
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