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  • Essay / Analysis of the techniques used in the film Requiem for a Dream

    “Requiem for a Dream” is a 2000 film, directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly and Marlon Wayans. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The film is about four characters who are drug addicts. Each of them is trapped in their own delusional world due to drug use. The film is divided into three parts: “Summer”, “Autumn” and “Winter”. The start of each game is announced by placing the title of the game at the top of the screen filled in white on a black background. Each season marks changes in the lives of the four main characters. Starting with the first part “Summer”, which as a season represents the period of success and productivity. This is also proven by the color palette of the film which changes in each part of the film to create contrast between the seasons. It goes from hot to cold in the “Fall” section in which the characters’ addiction becomes deeper. It goes from cool to dark in the “Winter” section where the tempo of the montage quickens and the soundtrack intensifies. This is the final step for each character. Split screen is used extremely extensively in this film, whether vertical or horizontal, even though it's not necessary. The director used it to represent the differences between each character and their own world. It represents each character's point of view, the viewer can easily get it when on each screen we can see through the character's eyes. Even the top shot of Harry and Marion is shown in a split screen, each character as one. Many ellipses are used and many shots are taken using the fisheye lens, especially when the characters are drugged. To depict the process of drug use, the viewer is taken through a sequence of quick shots, extreme close-ups and exaggerated sound effects. This same sequence is used to depict drug use throughout the film. This sequence is really fast and encourages the viewer to keep an eye on the construction of fragments of the story. And after every drug use, there is a time lapse, or a slow motion, a dissolve, a fade to white... and these elements are used to signify the passage of time, because drug use makes time pass differently. Jumps are also used to signify the passage of time. Many shots were used more than once: the drug use sequence, a shot of Sara sipping her coffee was looped with sound effects, shots of Harry and Ty negotiating were looped with the sound, a cut on the televisions. remote control when Sara turns it off, also a photo of the sun and a photo of Sara closing a closet. When Harry was high he would hallucinate a bit thinking he was somewhere with Marion, you could see him talking but no sound was added. We also have a split screen with the same images of drug use, each depicting a character. There were two rotating upper planes. The first ceiling fan camera was used during Ty and Alice's sex scene and the second was for Harry and Marion before their first argument. A scene depicting the passage of time and Sara losing weight, completing the same sequence, each introducing a new day. The 180 degree rule was broken when Sara and Harry had a conversation and he realized she was taking pills. Some shots were just the characters' hallucinations, making the viewer believe until the..