Requiem for a Dream was critically acclaimed, but one cannot deny the fact that it was very difficult to sit through the entire film. The 2000 movie directed by Darren Aronofsky explores the theme of addiction and its catastrophic impact on people’s lives. Aronofsky gave a tough time to his movie stars on set as he wanted more dedication from them to his movies.
Ellen Burstyn, who is popularly known for her role in the horror classic The Exorcist, shared her experiences of working with the director on the sets of Requiem for a Dream.
Also Read: 8 Mind-bending Movies To See If You Liked Requiem For A Dream
Ellen Burstyn Found Requiem For A Dream More ‘Horrific’ Than The Exorcist
In Requiem for a Dream, Burstyn portrayed an oversized widow addicted to diet pills. When discussing her experiences on set, she explained that the Aronofsky movie proved more challenging than The Exorcist.
“I play a lonely Coney Island widow, Sara Goldfarb, who becomes addicted to diet pills. I don’t think I’ve ever been this challenged in a role – it was harder than The Exorcist.”
Requiem for a Dream marked only the director’s second movie, and he put his actors through hell to extract their best performances:
“Sometimes I had to spend four hours in the morning being fitted with prosthetics – I had four different necks, two different fat suits and nine wigs. But it never occurred to me to worry about how I looked in this film. It’s not that I’m vanity-free, it’s just that my vanity is in my work and not in my looks.”
Though The Fountain director’s actions may seem harsh, Burstyn’s dedication paid off as she received an Oscar nomination for her role, the film’s only nomination.
The Requiem For A Dream Director Gave A Tough Time To Other Actors As Well
Interestingly, Darren Aronofsky used a fat suit not only in Requiem for a Dream but also in his 2022 movie The Whale, but this time actor Brendan Fraser received the Best Actor Oscar for enduring the hardships. Similarly, filming Black Swan took a toll on Natalie Portman‘s physical and mental well-being, but she also went on to win the Best Actress Oscar for her exceptional performance.
Aronofsky’s movies often tackle controversial topics, leading to polarizing responses, as evident in his works like The Fountain and Mother!. While it’s no doubt that the director is demanding to work with, there’s also the possibility that actors might receive several accolades for their performances.
Source: Evening Standard
