Video Essay: Mastery of Editing – Requiem for a Dream

Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem For A Dream is an incredible movie, but it is one of those films that I will probably never watch again due to the fact it deals with very dark things. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad I watched it, but it stayed with me for a long time.

Mr. Nerdista has put together this excellent video essay that looks at the editing in the film.

The editing in Requiem for a Dream holds thematic and character relevance to the overall film, rather than just acting as a way to piece scenes together. Every quick-cut has a meaning, as does the split-screen sequences. In this video essay, I look at why editor Jay Rabinowitz and Darren Aronofsky compiled the film the way they did, and the effect it has on the audience.