My favorite movie. Let me explain why:
I first saw this film several years ago. The first time I saw it, the best word I can use to describe it is “powerful.” I felt shaken to my core, albeit somewhat appalled/confused. It haunted me for at least a week. It took me a while to understand what I was feeling, or why. Honestly, I don’t think I ever can fully explain how this movie can make you feel. I will say there were no happy emotions associated with it, yet it didn’t make me depressed or cynical about the world either. Mostly, I couldn’t believe how this cinematic artform could evoke such a multitude of deep, complex emotions.
Although it is fiction, it is a reflection of some of the brutal realities of our human existence.
It’s a movie that makes you aware of the sheer depth of life. And we’re often afraid of it, but this fear is ironically how we end up in those dark places. We often tag “positive” or “negative” to emotions, but we are meant to feel a spectrum, and often in trying to suppress those we label as “negative” can lead to worse consequences. As an empath, this film was actually a catalyst for me to understand life on another level, and somewhat cathartic.
To deem this just a “drug movie” is an injustice to its intent. Drugs are the vehicle, but the root of this film is clinging onto dreams and suppressing emotions. Each character has a dream, a life, and issues they are unable to cope with. As someone who is dreamer, a dream is hope. Without the dream, there is no purpose for each character. Unable to cope with their present realities, hanging onto dreams is all they have, and sacrificing the present moment for those dreams is what ends up happening. In a sense, the dreams become nightmares.
Why do people succumb to addiction? I don’t have the answers , but I believe the antidote to addiction is connection. Lost connections to self, society, family, purpose, nature, is rooted in addiction.
While hard to watch, it’s a must-see for anyone who has never seen it. The soundtrack is incredible as well, and plays an important role in harnessing the rollercoaster of emotions throughout the film.