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Tuesday, 12 December 2006 18:51 |
By BLAISE FAY
"The Fountain" is a visual masterpiece, spanning 1,000 years and interconnecting one couple, exploring aspects of their lives, their love and human nature in general.
Tom, played by Hugh Jackman, is a medical researcher who is studying cancer. He immerses himself in work, desperately trying to find the cure for a disease that is slowly crippling his wife, but also neglecting her because of it.
Rachel Weisz plays his wife, Izzy, who is working on a story called "The Fountain." She asks him to finish the story for her as she becomes sicker, insisting he will know how to "finish it."
Both
of these actors bring a unique and powerfully expressive charm to their
roles. Weisz is gentle and easy to love, and Jackman plays a passionate
husband, hell-bent on saving what he loves most ÇƒÓ Izzy.
Supporting
actress Ellen Burstyn plays Dr. Lilli, Tomës firm-yet-concerned
co-worker. She also starred in "Requiem for a Dream," another film
directed by Darren Aronofsky.
 While Aronofsky
wrote the story and the screenplay of "The Fountain," it is clear most
of his well-known genius was invested in the cinematography. There is
little dialogue, and the setting is so striking it may as well jump off
the screen.
From the
dazzling special effects to the unifying choice of gold lighting,
Aronofsky shows he is simply a master of filming the concrete to
represent the abstract. Only a skilled director could warp the
traditional sense of time and story to such extremes with any success.
The main story,
which is set in the present (Tom searching for Izzyës cure),
interconnects with two sub-plots that represent the past and the
future. "The Fountain," Izzyës short story, symbolizes the past and is
manifested by Tom ( Jackman as a conquistador) searching for the
Mayansë tree of life for the queen of Spain, played by Weisz.
The final
sub-plot is represented by what the images suggest as afterlife ÇƒÓ a
bald Tom living in a bubble, floating towards a dead, golden star with
a tree representing his lover. That nebula happens to be the Mayan
underworld, which Izzy shows to Tom through their telescope in
reference to the story she is writing.
 The whole film
operates on circular logic. With that in mind, "The Fountain" is
outside of most contemporary norms in theater. The film is extreme.
Instead of trying to figure it out, focusing on the storyline and
wondering what will happen at the end, I think it is better to view
"The Fountain" with an open mind. Most importantly, I would urge seeing
it as an experience that delves much deeper into existence, memories
and daily life.
As the credits
started rolling (a bit unexpectedly), I heard some people in the back
of the cinema heave and say, "Finally!" Their response really shocked
me, because I left wanting more. I departed with a greater sense of
empathy ÇƒÓ and I was a bit teary-eyed.
Needless to say,
this movie will probably split the audience right down the middle. I
loved it ÇƒÓ and the people sitting behind me hated it. However, whether
this movie will receive great reviews is not really the point.
This film was like awakening from a powerful dream, where the world makes sense.
I think "The
Fountain" will prove to be a delight for anyone willing to be led by
the movie and its artistic themes, instead of expecting to lead the
film and understand everything when it is over.
ï
Blaise Fay, a sophomore at UNC Asheville, works for the Daily Planet.
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