Requiem For a Dream
Requiem For a Dream is a book published in 1978 and a movie based on the book. A man named Selby wrote the novel, while Darren Aronofky directed the movie. The film was nominated for some academy awards. This article details both the movie and the novel.
First let’s look at the novel. Four people feature prominently. These are Harry Marion, Tyrone and Sara. Harry and Marion are a couple. Tyrone is friends with both of them. Sara is Harry’s mother. Each of them becomes obsessed with gaining their dream. The dream leads them to addiction, and pretty horrible lives. Sara wants to be on television. She binges on diet pills to lose weight after a casting company hints that she might be selected. She ends up hospitalized. Harry, Marion, and Tyrone meanwhile make money by selling heroin. But they’ll become addicted to the drug they seek to sell. Everyone’s life is ruined.
In the movie mother and son, Sara and Harry, are the main characters along with Marion and Tyrone. It’s the same as in the novel. It all happens in three seasons – summer, fall, winter.
Sara likes to watch infomercials. She also overeats. She realizes this makes her stout. But her life gains new purpose when the producers of the infomercial call her to tell her she may be on the infomercial. She vows to fit into the red dress she once wore to Harry’s graduation. To accomplish this she goes on a crazy diet. When that doesn’t work she sees a doctor who prescribes amphetamines. She soon becomes addicted. Signs of this addiction are overly pleased personality, and constantly grinding her teeth.
Harry and Tyrone choose to deal drugs. They want to one day be able to score a pound of heroin. Harry promises Marion he will buy here a clothing store with the money. Tyrone simply wants enough money to earn a life off the street.
Sara’s addiction is even worse in the fall. She’s taking more and more, but it isn’t working. She hallucinates about appearing on the infomercial. Harry and Tyrone run afoul of the police. Most of the money they have earned in the summer is used for Tyrone’s bail. Not only does it become increasingly hard to find quality heroin, but they themselves use more and more of what they buy.
The end of the movie is very sad. Winter is the worst season for everyone in the movie. Harry is hospitalized after plunging from a roof top, Sara is institutionalized, Tyrone is in jail, and Marion is hopelessly addicted to heroin. Everyone except Harry ends up hallucinating a fantasy world.
Requiem for a Dream is pretty accurate in its depiction of addiction.
