REQUIEM FOR A DREAM

Year: 2000
USA: Artisan Entertainment
UK: Momentum Pictures
Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans, Christopher McDonald, Louise Lasser, Keith David, Sean Gullette, Bill Buell, Ben Shenkman, Ajay Naidu, Samia Shoaib
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Country: USA
UK: 101 mins
UK Certificate: 18 contains drug depiction, coarse language and sex
USA Release Date: 20 October 2000 (Limited Release - wider)
USA Release Date: 6 October 2000 (Limited Release - Los Angeles)
UK Release Date: 19 January 2001

Synopsis

Writer/director Darren Aronofsky follows up his critically acclaimed feature debut, PI, with REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, adapted from the 1978 novel by celebrated author Hubert Selby, Jr. (LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN). Innovative and imaginative, the film is a harrowing journey into the psyches of human beings addicted to their visions of a happier life.

Set on the rusted mean streets of Coney Island, Brooklyn, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM tells the parallel stories of four people pursuing their dreams of better lives. Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn) is a lonely widow who is revitalized by the prospect of appearing on television as a game show contestant, while her son Harry (Jared Leto), his girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly), and his friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans) have devised an illicit shortcut to wealth and ease.

Lulled by early successes, Sara, Harry, Marion and Tyrone convince themselves that unforeseen setbacks are only temporary. They ignore their deteriorating circumstances and focus all their energies on realizing their beautiful visions of the future. Even as the promise of fulfillment disappears to nothingness, they cling to the delusions that are slowly destroying their lives, denying reality until at last they are eye to eye with their worst nightmares.