Analysis Of The Four Cinematic Styles Seen In 'Requiem For A Dream'

Mise en scene, cinematography, sound and especially the editing all play key roles in the development of the story.

The sound throughout the film is sharp, and often heightened to an almost unbearable pitch. This takes the audience out of their comfort zone and places them firmly on the edge of their seats. The musical score consists of eerie classical music, which is usually associated with dramatic scenes in horror movies. The score also comprises of a continuous droning sound and buzzing noise from the broken lights, which are uncomfortable to listen to. From the very beginning of the film, the unsettling music seems to be

Towards the end of the film, Harry has a drug-induced hallucination in which he is running on a pier towards his girlfriend, Marion. He is shouting her name but the audience is only able to hear the sound of his footsteps. This represents the lack of communication in their relationship towards the end of the film. When we see Sara stepping off the scale during her second trip to the hospital, nothing can be heard but an eerie, hollow sound. This allows the audience to experience the emptiness and loneliness that Sara feels without her family, and without the doctor’s attention.

The early scenes are brightly lit and pleasant to watch. As the film progresses, so the scenes darken, showing how deep their addictions were taking them. Sara’s apartment becomes most notably darker as the film progresses. At the beginning of the story, when Sara was worry-free, her apartment was sunlit and immaculately clean. She keeps the apartment looking beautiful only for herself, as her husband has died, her son has moved out and her friends rarely visit. Towards the end of the film her apartment deteriorates into a dark and miserable void, in which Sara becomes isolated and increasingly more absorbed into her distressing hallucinations. By neglecting to take care of her home, Sara neglects to take care of herself.

Aronofsky splits the film into three parts, subtitled Summer, Fall, and Winter. The seasons change along with the characters, as they all progress from good to bad, happy to sad. The next season would obviously be spring, so we are at least left with some kind of reassurance that each character has the ability to reclaim their lives and their relationships.

When Sara eats the fat-free breakfast, the audience only sees the food disappear as we hear the slurping of the coffee, the cracking of the egg and the swallowing of the grapefruit. This speeds up the eating process, so the audience can understand how insufficient the meal is. The loud sound and visual of Sara’s clock ticking also adds to the sense of passing time, or perhaps a lack of time as their addictions become progressively worse. The sound of Sara grinding her teeth during her son’s visit is amplified in order for the audience to hear what Harry is hearing. This selective hearing can be noted throughout the film.

Some topics in this essay:
Marion Harry, Sara Goldfarb, Tappy Tibbons, Requiem Dream, VCU Sara, Fall Winter, Harry Tyrone, Marion Arnold, Sara Sara’s, ECUs Marion, throughout film, fast motion, screen split, towards film, slow motion, screen split vertically, diet pills, motion seen, fish-eye lens, mise en, aspect film, sound children playing,