What do "Apocalypto" and "The fountain" have in common? Both use the Mayan mythology and history as a source of inspiration, but whereas in the first ‘blood’ is part of the show, in the second case it means life and also 'the prision bars that keep our souls imprisoned in our body'. But similarities end there.
Critics and public are split about their judgment of "The fountain". As Niels Ruëll wrote in the magazine “Cinema: out and about in Brussels”, some film critics think the film is pretentious, pseudo-profound and pseudo-metaphysical, a cheap copy of "2001: A space odyssey" maybe. But I think it’s a brilliant and beautiful parable, a story about life, love, and death. Yet it remains self-contained and intimate in the way it is filmed. As Aronofsky says, “science and medicine keep on making progress in extending our lives”. Indeed life expectancy is nowadays more than double that of 500 years ago and keeps increasing, in parallel with quality of life. Yet, he continues, “does that make death one whit less terrifying for us?” But the film is also about life, and the power of love. Aronofsky says “(The fountain) is about eternal love. We’re only around on this planet for a short period, what should we do with our time? Loving is, I reckon, the best thing we can do”.
In three interlinked ‘stories’ (or part of the same story), we see a spanish conquistador seeking a hidden Mayan temple searching for the secret of eternal life, a biologist/researcher desperatly trying to find the cure for his wife’s terminal illness instead of spending time with her and a shaven-head Buddha-like man travelling towards a dying star-system (called Xilalba, what the Mayan called the 'spiritual world') in a transparent bubble-spaceship containing a dying tree, of which he eats pieces.
This is not a road trip but a space and time travel, a psychedelic and spiritual discovery trip. Not everybody will enjoy it and be ready to travel along with Aronofsky, that’s for sure, but if you get into it, it’s a special experience, one that you won’t forget that easily and that might inhabit your dreams and make you question many issues for a while to come maybe – and hopefully won’t drag you into any existential crisis… It is in any case not a mainstream film for large audiences, those who like action, blood, explosions. in any case I must say the film is quite entertaining and never boring. The photography is excellent and images are aesthetically beautiful, based on nearly monochromatic tones, around golden/fire coulours.
It was not easy for Aronofsky to bring "The Fountain" to life… it took him six years, after his previous film "Requiem for a dream" (which I have not seen yet but which I am eagerly looking forward to discovering now). Brad Pitt abandoned the project(and also production) which reduced the budget from 75 to 30 million US dollars (according to the magazine “Cinema: out and about in Brussels”). So Hugh Jackman replaced Brad Pitt (fortunately) and Rachel Weisz (Aronofsky’s wife) replaced Cate Blanchett. They’re both quite good in their roles and I think they achieve the right measure to the emotional dimension aimed at by Aronofsky. This is the type of cinema I would like to see more and that makes a difference. Cinema needs more films like "The fountain", films that make us dream and think, that question our beliefs and ‘truths’, yet are also capable of making us feel. And Aronosfky seems not to be afraid to make such romantic and passionate films.
Critics and public are split about their judgment of "The fountain". As Niels Ruëll wrote in the magazine “Cinema: out and about in Brussels”, some film critics think the film is pretentious, pseudo-profound and pseudo-metaphysical, a cheap copy of "2001: A space odyssey" maybe. But I think it’s a brilliant and beautiful parable, a story about life, love, and death. Yet it remains self-contained and intimate in the way it is filmed. As Aronofsky says, “science and medicine keep on making progress in extending our lives”. Indeed life expectancy is nowadays more than double that of 500 years ago and keeps increasing, in parallel with quality of life. Yet, he continues, “does that make death one whit less terrifying for us?” But the film is also about life, and the power of love. Aronofsky says “(The fountain) is about eternal love. We’re only around on this planet for a short period, what should we do with our time? Loving is, I reckon, the best thing we can do”.
In three interlinked ‘stories’ (or part of the same story), we see a spanish conquistador seeking a hidden Mayan temple searching for the secret of eternal life, a biologist/researcher desperatly trying to find the cure for his wife’s terminal illness instead of spending time with her and a shaven-head Buddha-like man travelling towards a dying star-system (called Xilalba, what the Mayan called the 'spiritual world') in a transparent bubble-spaceship containing a dying tree, of which he eats pieces.
This is not a road trip but a space and time travel, a psychedelic and spiritual discovery trip. Not everybody will enjoy it and be ready to travel along with Aronofsky, that’s for sure, but if you get into it, it’s a special experience, one that you won’t forget that easily and that might inhabit your dreams and make you question many issues for a while to come maybe – and hopefully won’t drag you into any existential crisis… It is in any case not a mainstream film for large audiences, those who like action, blood, explosions. in any case I must say the film is quite entertaining and never boring. The photography is excellent and images are aesthetically beautiful, based on nearly monochromatic tones, around golden/fire coulours.
It was not easy for Aronofsky to bring "The Fountain" to life… it took him six years, after his previous film "Requiem for a dream" (which I have not seen yet but which I am eagerly looking forward to discovering now). Brad Pitt abandoned the project(and also production) which reduced the budget from 75 to 30 million US dollars (according to the magazine “Cinema: out and about in Brussels”). So Hugh Jackman replaced Brad Pitt (fortunately) and Rachel Weisz (Aronofsky’s wife) replaced Cate Blanchett. They’re both quite good in their roles and I think they achieve the right measure to the emotional dimension aimed at by Aronofsky. This is the type of cinema I would like to see more and that makes a difference. Cinema needs more films like "The fountain", films that make us dream and think, that question our beliefs and ‘truths’, yet are also capable of making us feel. And Aronosfky seems not to be afraid to make such romantic and passionate films.
Highly recommended!
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****/5
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