Editing is a unique aspect of film which connects images to tell a story. In the film Requiem for a Dream (Aronofsky, 2000), utilizes a soviet montage style of editing, which manipulates the length, rhythm, and tone to create a desired effect to the viewers of scenes. Soviet montage includes four subcategories, metric, rhythmic, tonal, and intellectual.
Requiem for a Dream (Aronofsky, 2000)
In the beginning of the movie, we see the use of a split screen. This type of editing is considered tonal because it is used to evoke emotion. In the scene we see the mother, who has locked herself into a bedroom, and the son who is trying to take her T.V. The mother is frightened by the son who is aggressive in his interaction. Many scenes in this film evoke emotion with the strong story line, but a scene that stood out to me was when Marion is leaving her therapists apartment after having to have sex with him in order to get more money for drugs. This scene used a close-up approach, where we could feel her emotions of upset while also processing her experience she had just encountered. With this scene the camera action makes us feel her movements as if we are with her walking.
Requiem for a Dream (Aronofsky, 2000)
Another type of editing used in this film was rhythmic, editing shows a pattern through editing. The scenes in which the story of Harry’s drug addiction as well as his mothers (Sara). In the beginning of the movie, we are only seeing his addiction. Once Sara begins taking the diet pills, the montages, similar to Harry’s, are used. As her addiction continues, Harry and Sara’s montages are shown in a rhythmic pattern going through it together. As these addictions continue throughout the movie, many patterns or rhythms arise between characters as similar situations happen between them.
Requiem for a Dream (Aronofsky, 2000)
Requiem for a Dream (Aronofsky, 2000)
Lastly, metric editing is used when Harry and Tyrone are selling drugs. The process of them making money is slow, as we are shown through the visual of different seasons. These scenes are sped up to help manipulate time.
Along with editing of images, there is also sound editing used in film. There are two types of sound editing used in film, which include diegetic and non-diegetic. Diegetic editing is sound that the characters can hear. In Requiem for a Dream, the sounds used in the scenes where the characters are taking drugs utilize diegetic sound since they would be able to hear these things happening. Non-diegetic editing is sounds only the audience can hear. In the film, Clint Mansell’s orchestral piece was used when exciting or high energy scenes were in motion. One example is when Harry and Tony were told they could get drugs they would sell while simultaneously Sara was applying for the television show. Another example is after Sara takes her “diet pills” and is cleaning her house and her addiction begins.
Requiem for a Dream
CMS 300 Art and History of Film 