Requiem for a Dream follows four residents of Brooklyn's Brighton Beach neighborhood through the seasons of summer, fall and winter to present a disturbing and eye-opening look at addiction. Although drug addiction is a major theme, various other addictions, such as those to television, sex and living in the past are shown to be equally as all-encompassing as drug addiction.

Director Darren Aronofsky uses a fast-paced, frenetic shooting style, quickly cutting between seemingly unrelated scenes to show their connection and increase intensity. The climactic and unforgettably disturbing final half hour illustrates the consequences of drug abuse as the characters succumb to the debilitating effects of their addictions.

1. "I'm somebody now, Harry. Everybody likes me. Soon, millions of people will see me and they'll all like me. I'll tell them about you, and your father, how good he was to us. Remember? It's a reason to get up in the morning. It's a reason to lose weight, to fit in the red dress. It's a reason to smile. It makes tomorrow all right. What have I got Harry, hm? Why should I even make the bed, or wash the dishes? I do them, but why should I? I'm alone. Your father's gone, you're gone. I got no one to care for. What have I got, Harry? I'm lonely. I'm old."—Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn)