In recent years, mental health has been brought into the spotlight. Over the years, more and more stigma has been taken away from reaching out for help when it’s needed. This has been shown in any variety of movies in different capacities. For struggles with alcoholism, there are movies like Leaving Las Vegas and Doctor Sleep. For movies about mental health struggles, there are movies like The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Christine (2016). In my storied history of watching movies across this genre, one movie stuck out to me and affected me in a way no movie has before. That movie is the 2000 Darren Aronofsky directed film Requiem for a Dream.
Not many of us think about it very often but substance use disorders affect over 48.5 million Americans aged 12 and over (NCDAS). Not only can drugs in themselves be dangerous, but you can also put yourself at risk for things such as HIV, AIDS and hepatitis. However, 12.8 million received substance abuse treatment in America as of 2023 (NCDAS). I believe that movies and other forms of media can bring awareness to the issue of drug abuse and the impact it can have on those around it.
Requiem for a Dream is a film directed by Darren Aronofsky, a famed director who has over thirty-seven awards in his name for movies such as Black Swan and The Wrestler (would recommend). This film is about Sara Goldfarb, her son Harry, his girlfriend Marion and Harry’s friend Tyrone being affected by drug addiction in a variety of ways. Fewer movies have affected me in such a way as this movie has. If there’s any way to describe the director, Darren Aronofsky, it’s that he is quite the storyteller. Some movies that only include a few characters can end up being boring and repetitive but this film was far from that.
The characters go through their journeys in some ups but devastating downs. As gruesome as this film is, I, to this day, cannot stop thinking about the fashion of the cinematography. Quick cuts and fast perception changes in this film can make your head spin, but they are so perfect for portraying the chaotic environment. As time goes on from watching it, I feel more and more admirable towards it. The relationship between every character and how they interact makes this film so much more impactful. The film is currently available on Peacock, Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Pluto, and Tubi.
From Harry and Marion’s romantic relationship to the mother-son relationship of Sara to Harry, you can easily see yourself or someone you love in any of these situations and it really makes you think about your own situation in life and what we take for granted. It makes us think about how we should appreciate ourselves and others in our lives. In this movie, we can see how we become aware of others lives and how substance abuse affects us all. Breaking the stigma by using movies like this is critical to help those in need.
If you or someone you know is struggling with drug addiction, please call the 24/7 Substance Abuse and Addiction Hotline at 1-844-289-0879. If you are in an immediate emergency, please dial 911.
