Running Head: REQUIEM FOR A DREAM 1

Requiem for a Dream, the Movie:

A Depressingly Realistic Glimpse into Addiction
Michelle Hodgson-Smith
Salt Lake Community College











REQUIEM FOR A DREAM 2

Abstract
This paper will discuss the overall educational value of Requiem for a Dream (Sibling/Protozoa,
2000), a film directed by Darren Aronofsky and written by Darren Aronofsky and Huber Selby
Jr., while discussing the plot using the textbook, Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society
(Levinthal, 2012) and a few journal articles to show that this portrayal of addiction is quite
realistic. I will also explore ways this film could prevent drug abuse in society. I will conclude
with my personal opinion of the entertainment value of the film, give the film a rating, and
mention my likes/dislikes regarding the film.
Keywords: Requiem for a Dream, Heroin, Amphetamine, Addiction, Drug Crime, Drug
Violence, Amphetamine Psychosis













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Requiem for a Dream, the Movie:
A Depressingly Realistic Glimpse into Addiction
Requiem for a Dream (Sibling/Protoza, 2000) depicts the lives of four people, their drug
use, dependence, and inevitable downfall. Set in what I believe to be the 1990s, this film
explores both the reasons one might begin and continue to use drugs and what terrible
consequences these choices might have to an individual. I have found this film to be educational
in that it is quite realistic, its only flaw being the dilation of pupils when heroin is administered.
Heroin is known to constrict pupils, causing pin-point appearance (Levinthal, 2012).
Amphetamines are used in this film and known to cause a dilation of pupils (Levinthal, 2012);
however, the director chose not to illuminate that fact during the movie.
Discussion
Harry and his friend, Tyrone are tired of living fix to fix and resorting to stealing and
pawning Harrys mom, Saras television set so they decide to start selling their drug of choice,
heroin. This is an example of economically compulsive violence, a crime that stems from the
compulsion to acquire money for drugs (Levinthal, 2012). The money rolls in and they continue
to use, along with Harrys girlfriend, Marion. They have the symptoms of a heroin user; the
boys inject the heroin, causing an initial rush, characterized by a vocal aaah sound, Marion
snorts the heroin, so does not have the rush, but does enjoy euphoria, and bouts of drowsiness, as
the boys do (Levinthal, 2012). I did not realize heroin could be snorted before watching this
movie the first time.
The dream soon turns to a nightmare when drug dealing violence erupts and Tyrone is
arrested, an example of systemic violence (Levinthal, 2012). Heroin is hard to find on the streets
as gangs are dueling for territory, doubling the price. This is similar to the law enforcement
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crack-down in 1961 which also raised heroin prices (Levinthal, 2012). The crew experiences
some of the usual withdrawal symptoms, sleeplessness, irritability, depression and anxiety
(Levinthal, 2012). Harry and Tyrone travel to Florida to score some heroin, while Marion resorts
to doing sex acts and sex shows in exchange for it. As Levinthal (2012, p. 46) suggests, Males
are more likely to commit crimes against persons and property, whereas females are more likely
to commit crimes against the public order, such as prostitution. Harry develops a nasty
infection at his injection site that gets too painful to ignore. Infection is a scary outcome and a
somewhat common one with intravenous (IV) drug users. One study found that each IV drug
users has an infected abscess every 3 years (Gordon and Lowy, 2005). The doctor, who sees
Harry for his infection, can clearly see his problem stems from drug abuse.
Harry and Tyrone are arrested and taken to jail. In 2009, more than 1.5 million arrests
were made against drug law breakers (Levinthal, 2012). Tyrone is put to work in jail, while
Harry gets his arm amputated due to the disgusting, smelly infection. Necrotizing fasciitis can
become a case for amputation, and is a common infection found in IV drug users (Sudarsky,
Laschinger, Coppa, and Spencer, 1987). Another cause for amputation among IV drug users is
complications among those who inject crushed tablets (Partanen, Vikatmaa, Tukiainen,
Lepantalo, and Vuola, 2009).
Meanwhile, Sara gets word that she has been selected to be on television; that spurs her
to try to lose weight so she can fit into the sexy red dress she wore to Harrys graduation, the one
her husband liked so much when he was still alive. Her attempts to eat less fail and she resorts to
prescription diet pills. Amphetamine anorectics were commonly prescribed in the 40s and 50s.
Prescriptions dwindled but continued to be prescribed into the mid-90s (Colman, 2005). She
has the typical side effects for an amphetamine user; acute effects- euphoria, energy, heavy
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breathing, and loss of appetite, and chronic effects- odd jaw movements and teeth grinding and
compulsive and repetitive behaviors, such as cleaning (Levinthal, 2012). Sara develops a
tolerance to the pills; they dont feel the same to her anymore. As the nurse described it, she was
becoming adjusted to them (Levinthal, 2012).
As Sara increases her own dose two, three, and then four times her usual amount, the
amphetamine psychosis starts to set in. She has intense mood swings, paranoia, and terrifying
hallucinations similar to Schizophrenia (Levinthal, 2012). Her ordeal culminates in her being
admitted to the psych ward at the hospital where she is medicated, tied down, force fed, and
when nothing works, given electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). ECT is commonly used in treating
patients with mental disorders such as Schizophrenia (Keuneman, Weerasundera, and Castle,
2002).
Conclusion
I believe this movie may have a role in peoples drug prevention simply by seeing the
possible outcomes abusing those drugs may have. And considering the fact that all of these
outcomes are plausible, as I have shown, it makes drug abuse all the more frightening. For me,
this movie had a huge impact on my outlook of amphetamines and heroin. Who wants to go
crazy, go to jail, have their arm amputated, or feel they have to prostitute themselves just for a
moment of euphoria?? I give this movie four and a half stars. The cinematography is great,
using color and split screens often. I love the score. The writers and director do a great job
encouraging empathy for the characters. The last few minutes are of the most intense I have seen
in film. The only thing I dont like about this film is how depressed I feel at the end.


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References
Colman, E. (2005). Anorectics on Trial: A Half Century of Federal Regulation of Prescription
Appetite Suppressants. Annals of Internal Medicine, 143(5), 380.
http://www.dontweight2lose.com/files/Anorectics_on_Trial.pdf
Gordon, R. and Lowy, F. (2005) Bacterial Infections in Drug Users. New England Journal of
Medicine, 353, 1945. doi:10.1056/NEJMra042823
Keuneman, R., Weerasundera, R., and Castle, D. (2002). The Role of ECT in Schizophrenia.
Australas Psychiatry, 10(4), 385. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1665.2002.00500.x
Levinthal, C. F. (2012). Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society, Seventh Edition (pp. 30, 37, 46-
47, 95, 105, 124-125, 127, 130). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Partanen, T. A., Vikatmaa, P., Tukiainen, E., Lepantalo, M., and Vuola, J. (2009) Outcome after
Injections of Crushed Tablets in Intravenous Drug Abusers in the Helsinki University
Central Hospital. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, 37(6), 704.
doi:10.1016/j.ejvs.2009.01.016
Sibling/Protazoia (Producer), & Darren Aronofsky (Director). (2000). Requiem for a Dream
[Motion Picture]. United States: Artisan Entertainment.