The Fountain - David Gillhespy

The Fountain spans across 1000 years beginning in the dark jungles of the Mayan civilization where the loyal conquistador Thomas (Hugh Jackman) is in search of the tree of life in order to save the Queen of Spain (Rachel Weisz) from the Grand Inquisitor. In the present day, Tommy (Hugh Jackman) is a scientist trying to discover the cure for the cancer that is killing his wife (Rachel Weisz). In the future, Tom (Hugh Jackman) travels through space in a large bubble with only a dying tree and visions of the past to keep him company on his journey to Shibalba; a dying star believed by the Mayans to be the source of rebirth. As these stories unfold, the common bonds between them are reviled.

The thing that most caught my attention about The Fountain was its visual beauty. There were so many shots that could have been blown up and hung on the wall of an art gallery. I was blown away by some of the visual effects, especially in the future scenes. My awe increased 10 fold when I later read that director, Darren Aronofsky didn't use any computer generated graphics in the film. The technique known as micro-photography was used to shoot chemical reactions up-close on Petri dishes. The bubble that Tom travels inside in the future was done by micro-photographing a soap bubble. Aronofsky has stated that he chose this technique because he wanted the film to be timeless. His intentions garnered perfect results. This film is certainly timeless.

Though promoted as a love story, this film is more about a man dealing with mortality and time. Yes, it is part love story. Yes it is part sci-fi journey. But above all it is a film about accepting ones mortality and sacrificing it in the name of rebirth. For Aronofsky, this film is a fitting follow up to Pi and Requiem for a Dream, and launches his position as a visionary to a new level. Not everyone will like The Fountain. In fact, I doubt it will even get a very wide release, because it isn't a commercial film, but art. Simply, this film is poetry - and not everyone likes poetry.