Requiem for a Dream

Requiem for a Dream is a novel written by Hubert Selby, Jr. and first published in 1978

About the Movie

As in his previous film, π, Aronofsky demonstrates his unique style of movie making with ever repeating rapid cut scenes, which remain a constant element throughout the whole film, the depiction of pain (not violence), the graphic insight into the characters' minds and the opposition of initially different situations, which result in the very same effect.

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Requiem for a Dream does belong to the drug movie category —Trainspotting being a somewhat typical example— yet Aronofsky's approach to the theme is less bohemian than in the latter one. Nevertheless, the director refrains from being moralistic or even critical. The consequences of legal and illegal drugs are shown as similarly devastating, and similar cinematic devices are even used to portray Mrs. Goldfarb's television viewing regimen.

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One criticism of Requiem for a Dream is in its unrealistic portrayal of drug use, especially as it relates to care given to addicts seeking medical attention. Since it is based on a book from the 1970s, it is also criticized for having an outdated perspective on drug use, medicine, and the treatment of mental illness.

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