Well, this was certainly odd. A 10/10 in the mind-fuck category, if the ratings board had one. "Rated MF for a total mind-fuck." The director of “Requiem for a Dream” decided to delve into the “first man/Adam and Eve” mythology from both the Mayan and biblical traditions.
The plot is very hard to describe, just as the movie is confusing and deliberately obscure.
Here’s wikipedia’s plot summary
“The Fountain is a 2006 science fiction/fantasy film directed by Darren Aronofsky that follows three interwoven narratives that take place in the age of conquistadors, the modern-day period, and the far future. The film stars Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz, whose characters' romance exists in all three time periods. The Fountain explores the themes of love and mortality, drawing influences from Mayan mythology. The film is framed with visual language by using transition scenes, light, and shapes.”
Which I guess is a decent description. The movie itself has seen it’s fair share of production problems, not really being able to get off the ground since 2002. And, frankly, after watching it, it’s not too hard to tell why. It is WEIRD.
First, we see Hugh Jackman as the Conquistador having a prayer in a very “Dracula” kind of set-up. Rachel Weisz (as the Queen, we later discover) is seen in flashback. Then, he and two men are ambushed on the way to the Mayan temple where he is killed by a flaming sward.
Cut-to: Jackman in space, head shaved, in a Buddhist prayer sitting position … floating over a tree in a bubble in space.
Cut-to: modern day (though at first Jackman’s head is still shaved, then not) as a doctor researching cures for, what turns out to be his wife's cancer ...
As you can read … it’s not an easy movie to summarize and my fingers are telling me to stop. All I can say is that it is both visually excellent and emotionally satisfying if – and only if – you give it half a chance.
If you like your movies spelled out for you, then this one is not for you.
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