In the film Requiem for a Dream (2000), addiction is paired with fantasies of satisfaction and succe

In the film Requiem for a Dream (2000), addiction is paired with fantasies of satisfaction and success, as four characters encounter struggle in Brighton Beach and Coney Island. The story of aspirations and entrapments follows Harry (Jared Leto) and Tyrone (Marlon Wayans) as they attempt to become drug dealers, Harry’s mother Sara (Ellen Burstyn), as she diets aggressively in hopes of becoming a star on TV, and Harry’s girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly), who wants to open a chic clothing store.The film’s portrayal of Coney Island does not completely counter the optimism of earlier eras. Director Darren Aronofsky reinforces the theme of imagination, explaining “What unites all these characters is that they’re addicted to a fantasy and will use any means to get lost in that fantasy again and escape their present lives.” The image of Harry standing on Steeplechase Pier with the Parachute Jump in the background connects the dreams and risks of his character to the amusement park ride. The notion of falling into space from the top of the tower echoes both the film’s depictions of drug use and the aspirations of its protagonists.Although the Coney Island of Requiem for a Dream is not realistic, it serves as a device of punctuation for characters who estrange themselves from normal life, attempting to use what would have otherwise been seen as weakness as a tool of stability and empowerment. The success of the journey is less important than the potential for transformation, causing the dreamstate of the film to function as the inescapable draw of Aronofsky’s unusual story.Posted by Rob SohmerRequiem for a Dream, production still, directed by Darren Aronofsky, 2000. Artisan Entertainment. Photo: Artisan/Photofest; © Artisan -- source link

More pics about