Full circle

I've never really considered myself a spiritual person, but I do believe that there is some sort of pattern to the apparent chaos of life, some sense that eventually everything comes full circle.

Circles are a recurring motif in director Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain; there are Mayan symbols, tunnels, wedding rings, globes floating in space, closeups of eyes. Characters frequently gaze directly into the camera, the circles of their eyes framing a chaotic thread of color and light.

The story weaves together three parallel stories from the past, present and future. Hugh Jackman plays all three central characters; a conquistador, a scientist and a space traveler, each, in their own way, seeking to discover the secret of eternal life. The Fountain is not a traditional science-fiction film, but uses the genre (much like 2001: A Space Odyssey or Solaris) as a backdrop to a meditation on human existance. Amidst the spectacular photography, backdrops and beautifully organic special effects, it is the heartbreaking performances of Jackman and Rachel Weisz as his eternal love, that really ground the film and bring it that much needed touch of humanity.

The film's ending is, like 2001, open to interpretation. I'm not sure if I completely understood it, but I was satisfied by it. There is a feeling of rebirth, renewal and an acceptance of destiny. Moments can be shared by many lives over many years, much like a needle and thread piercing hundred of pages from the same book. By sharing these moments, we can never be alone.