π (Pi)

The young mathematician Max Cohen urges to calculate the mathematic formulae of existence to be able to predict and understand everything in the whole universe, but his computer collapses, and figments of the brain and paranoia follows.
To some people the answer to the mystery of life is 42. To Max it turns out to be 216. This number opens doors to the mysticism of divinity, it explains the universe - it is the set of instructions to everything. Absurd, of course, but Aronofsky drags us in with the temptations of numerical mysticism, and it doesn't take long before we are all convinced maths fanatics.
There's nothing new about the mysticism of numbers. Everything good happens in lots of three, break a mirror and you will end up with seven years of misery, understand yourself through numerology, and find past, present and future through the code of numbers in the Bible.
In films numbers have often been connected to religion and have added a sense of tension and mystery. 666 is the number of the beast and the sign of the apocalypse is seven. Aronofsky moves on th is arena, but plays with other rules; he lets mathe-
matics have a more central position.
This might seem boring, but it's not! The camerawork is strongly inspired by Frank Miller's cartoon Sin City; white scratches in black Indian ink. To avoid grey nuances, the cameraman Matthew Libatique was brave enough, even though they had a minimal budget, to work with black/white reversal film which is difficult to develop.
In conjunction with music especially composed by Clint Mansell from Pop Will Eat Itself, a manic and paranoid surrounding is built up, which at the same time feels realistic and believable. On the soundtrack, designed by Brian Emrich from Foetus, music from Orbital, Massive Attack and The Aphex Twin can be heard.
There is no need for special effectsspirals of milk in coffee is enough to create a mysterious suction in the pit of the stomach. n digs itself dwindingly deep into the brain like an infinite fractal.
LINDA HEDIHN

Premiärstatus
Skandinavisk premiär: Medverkande
Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman, Pamela Hart: Producent
Eric Watson: Manus
Darren Aronofsky: Foto
Matthew Libatique: Musik
Namn: Talat språk
English