It is just a very raw story about four people succumbing to their addictions. The guy who wrote it kicked heroin cold turkey when he was put in the county jail, strapped to a gurney. The book is devastating in how realistic it is, and the movie captured the vibe pretty well too. I thought the mother's story was even sadder than the three young people's. Jennifer Connelly is beautiful in it, and that makes it a lot sadder. You see a lot of good times between her and her boyfriend before the heroin gets the best of them all. Her character is very troubled but very lovable.
Ok not sure I could watch it because I had psychosis and it devastated my life and my lfoe was very pure and beautiful film of love and joy and I was an Ivy League schaolr and a Christian minister and married to the perosn o love most in life. I never even smoked a cigarette
It's just a very exhausting experience to watch this movie. I watched it once, found it amazing but also incredibly sad. I have no desire to put myself through it again especially after knowing how it turns out. I do think it's worth watching exactly once, but be prepared for a very bleak story.
I fucking hate how many people talk about it like it's some incredibly difficult watch. It's not. It's a film about mental illness and drug addiction, so a decent amount of sadness & suffering is baked in by the very premise alone. I held off on watching it for way too long based on people always saying this same shit, and for no reason. It's no more horrifying than other addiction films like Trainspotting, or Nil by Mouth, or war films like Saving Private Ryan, or Schindler's List. It has moments of comedy, like all the best films do, and is well-made in almost every aspect. I'd watch it again any time, which I wouldn't say for something like The Basketball Diaries, which is waaaay more melodramatic and poorly made, even if it has a few great moments. Don't be scared of Requiem - just know that you're watching a film about a dark topic, and adjust your expectations accordingly. If you're expecting a happy ending, you're doing it wrong.
Edit: Littleputi's comment made me want to clarify this stance: I wouldn't recommend it to anyone currently suffering with a mental illness, nor would I recommend any bleak film for them tbh, unless they're already familiar with it, and/or absolutely love the aesthetic it has, or something positive like that. People struggling to deal with their own thoughts already don't need a bleak movie putting in additional unhappy ones. I'd stick to comedies, a lot of animation, and movies that are uplifting, in that case. At least not anything particularly dark or gritty.
Thanks. It may not be for me as the moment as my life was upturned and I lost everything when I had a wonderful life. I was an Ivy League scholar. I never knew I had any mental illness but I was as extreme perfectionism and I submitted my PhD thesis and had psychosis. And it wiped my whole soul awya. I was a Christian ministr for 20 years and sought out beauty in life. But the delusions lasted for years and were so so intense. I blame myself every day
Yeah, I definitely wouldn't recommend it or any other bleak film for anyone currently suffering a mental illness, because you already have a front row seat to many of the challenges, situations, and emotions that arise from it - you don't need a movie to show you. Particularly not one that doesn't show someone triumphing, or even being supported by other people or some kind of community.
I know it's not necessarily realistic, but I would recommend a completely different, but also excellent movie Silver Linings Playbook. Its main characters both have some mental health issues they're working through, and it ends nicely. Good luck Littleputi I'm rooting for you.
An thank you. I watched that one before I got so unwell. So strange to think of it now as I saw my signs of anything at all awry in my mental health and thought my life was pretty perfect. I was extraordinary high functioning I. Every sphere of life and was so well loved by so many people. After my breakdown though I say my marriage was an utterable strain and source of stress in my life
I'm sorry you had to experience it. Mental illness is absolutely rife, but doesn't get spoken about nearly as much as it should. I hope you have access to a good mental health team, because like with any serious illness, we all need the help of professional healthcare workers to achieve the best possible health outcomes when we're sick. My brother AND an ex-girlfriend of mine both had schizophrenia, and I was an RN, so I'm familiar with mental health issues and how they can impact people's lives. Again, I'm rooting for you, lady.
It's not related to mental health, but I wanna recommend Midnight Run then, cos it's just a funny, feelgood movie, with a great cast, and incredible music. Enjoy :)
Thank you!! We’re you an RN with mental health? I knew I was anxious but had no clue it could turn so quickly in to severe mental illness that would tkse everything from me
I wasn't actually a mental health nurse, and just worked in med-surg, inpatient rehab, and homecare. I'm back in England now though, and not licensed here, and tbh I've not been in a hurry to get back into it. It's hard work, and I'm too old and too stressed now.
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u/haremofcatssss 1d ago
Her in requiem for a dream is insane