Movie Analysis Essay on "The Fountain"

Introduction

"The Fountain" is a movie by Darren Aronofsky starring Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz that embodies biblical spirituality in the quest for immortality. The movie brings on board spiritual symbols and signs found in the book of Genesis and Revelation. Humans have long searched for eternal life, an aspect that is insatiable and has transcended for ages. In the movie, scientist Thomas Creo spends much of his time in the laboratory researching the cure for cancer. His wife Izzy is dying since she has a brain tumor. Therefore, Creo is caught up in the obsession to find the cure for cancer that is both real and metaphorical. As a result, the religious symbols and motifs presented in the movie revolve around the 'Tree of Life,' which is mentioned in both Genesis and Revelation.

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In Genesis 2:9, God planted the tree of life in the Garden of Eden together with the tree of knowledge, good and evil. The tree of life is a sign of eternal life (Overstreet). "The Fountain" opens with a quote for Genesis 3:24 where God drove away Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden (The Fountain). In the Fountain, the Queen of Spain makes several references to the book of Genesis. Moreover, priests during the reign of Isabel of Spain protected access to the tree of life. On the other hand, the scientist Thomas Creo strives to find the cure for cancer to save his wife Izzy, and to do so, he must use the bark of a tree from Central America. The reference to the tree of life can also be traced in Revelation 2:7 where the tree of life is found in the paradise of God (Overstreet). Therefore, spiritually, the tree of life is the fountain of youth that gives people immortality and eternal life.

Similarly, in the movie, Isabel of Spain quotes the biblical story of creation, especially concerning Adam and Eve. When the queen sends Tomas, her trusted conquistador to find the tree of life, she gives him a ring as a promise, that when the key to immortality is found, she shall be her Eve forever (Overstreet). Therefore, the movie presents the inquisition with the heavenly age of the biblical first man and woman.

Likewise, "The Fountain" endorses spiritual signs in the book of Revelation. Creo sees a bright light at the time he figures out that the bark of the tree from Central America would heal terminal illness in Donovan. According to Creo, solving the puzzle is an apocalyptic divine intervention. Since he does not want to accept death, finding the cure for cancer is paramount. Moreover, a bright light is seen when Izzy leaves the door from the lab. In the book of Revelation, the bright light represents the glory of God. Revelation 22:5 stipulates the light of God that is beyond that from the sun or moon (Overstreet). Therefore, when the scientist Tom transcends the galaxy towards the Xibalba nebula, the death of the star signifies the second death found in Revelation, upon which the merciful shall receive salvation and eternal life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Fountain" is a movie that grasps the audience's attention due to its religious imagery. The tree of life, in particular, is a central theme in the movie that is found in Genesis and Revelation that spells immortality. The movie also showcases the narrative of Adam and Eve. Essentially, death, grief and the quest for eternal life is a presence that surrounds human nature that Aronofsky showcased the movie.

Works Cited

The Fountain. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, performance by Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz. Muse Entertainment Enterprises, 22 Nov. 2006.

Overstreet, Jeffrey. "The Fountain." ChristianityToday.com, 22 Nov. 2006, www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/novemberweb-only/fountain.html.