The Fountain - Quell des Lebens

The Fountain ist ein Blick auf drei parallele Schicksale, die sich verflechten und voneinander abweichen, und die schließlich alle zur endgültigen Erkenntnis und Entdeckung der Wahrheit führen. Aronofsky war, ist und wird auch in Zukunft ein Experte für die Feinheiten der Filmhandlung sein, und The Fountain ist ein weiteres Paradebeispiel. Alle drei Geschichten greifen so stark und gleichzeitig so leicht ineinander, dass man manchmal gar nicht merkt, wo man sich gerade befindet. Hier wird eine Reihe von Themen angesprochen, von denen die Frage nach Leben und Tod besonders hervorsticht. Regietechnisch ist der Film recht solide, und ich muss die großartige Kinematographie (die für Aronofskys Filme typisch ist) und praktisch den gesamten visuellen Aspekt hervorheben, von den Effekten über den Schnitt bis hin zum Set-Design. Und nicht zuletzt das sympathische Titelpaar - Jackman und Weisz -, zwischen denen die Chemie wirklich stimmt. Kurzum, es ist ein Film, der wahrscheinlich für jeden von uns anders klingen wird, aber in Bezug auf die Qualität ist er eine überdurchschnittliche Angelegenheit. (30.04.2011)

The Fountain is certainly an indescribable cinematic experience. It is about expressing oneself in relation to questions that have plagued humanity since the dawn of history, through a mix of an esoteric visual poetry that combines Kubrick and Tarkovsky. It has to be approached on the level of feelings rather than in a classic way. The structure of the narrative is strikingly similar to Romain Sardou's novel “The Spark of God", but who cares if it works so well here. But not perfectly. After the end, I was left with a hard-to-define feeling that I could have just seen something great and quite exceptional, if only the creators had managed to convey this experience (or perhaps “journey" in the case of The Fountain) inwardly to the fullest. Therefore, Aronofsky's magnum opus does not deserve the highest rating after the first viewing, but perhaps I will eventually amend my rating in the future. If only because I just can’t get The Fountain out of my head. ♫ OST score: 4/5 (09.03.2007)

A visually stunning spectacle with a perfect music score. The Fountain is a beautiful film whose main idea is not hard to grasp, but if I want to fully understand the story itself, I will have to watch it at least once more. Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz (who here looks almost supernaturally beautiful) deliver excellent performances, as does Aronofsky in the director’s chair. I’m going to get Pi and Requiem for a Dream… (05.09.2008)

A complex philosophical allegory? Only in appeareance. An easy key to understanding it is Aronofsky's experiences in recent years and his fears about the death of loved ones. The Fountain is a powerful account of coming to terms with mortality, nicely mixed with a powerful love story. And for viewers who don't give a damn about a statement, The Fountain is an almost meditative and visually sophisticated piece of work, and to fully appreciate it, you need to be in a meditative mood, watch it in peace, in the shadows of a cinema, or at home after sunset. Certainly not in full light, with flash reflections on the screen, while ironing or as a soundtrack while working with the occasional "informative" look (I've been known to do that). I had somewhat overlooked Hugh Jackman until today, but here he impressed me with his heartfelt performance, I believed his every emotion. And thank God for the – forced by circumstances and limited budget – intimate mood of the whole film. The originally intended battles of armies of several thousand men and space ships would have made this fragile film a complete travesty. (15.05.2007)

From the very first minute, Aronofsky bombards the viewer with an audiovisual whirlwind (a proven collaboration with cinematographer Matthew Libattique) that the senses are unable to take it all in at first. Searching for a cure for the disease called death is an incredibly gripping (the plot), at once cathartic (the form) and especially perfectly intimate (the partnership) spectacle that demands multiple viewings to be fully absorbed. A surreally powerful piece of cinema that manages to grab you by the emotional strings with its mysterious medievalism, the mystical relationship between man and the tree of life, and the dull reality of today. A must for all cynics who see contemporary cinema as too pale. (15.04.2007)