Requiem for a Dream/Recap

Harry is a twenty-something drug addict, who routinely steals his long-suffering mother's TV to pawn it for money. His mother, Sara, is a timid and lonely shell of a woman who lives in a permanent state of denial. Her only concerns are to hide her son's condition from the world as much as from herself, being accepted by the neighborhood's women, and watching a television self-help infomercial show almost continually.

One summer day, Harry and his best friend Tyrone decide to not just be drug addicts but also drug dealers, with help from Harry's would-be fashion designer girlfriend Marion. Marion's parents are unaware that she's quit seeing her psychologist (thanks to her occasionally dating the man to keep him quiet), and routinely send her money, which Harry and Tyrone gladly make use of. Harry's dream is to help Marion start her own fashion store -- which, he tells her, could be done with the money gained from selling drugs directly.

Meanwhile, Sara receives a phone call stating she'll have a chance to appear on television. Already somewhat mad from loneliness, she becomes fixated on fitting into her favorite red dress for the occasion. Failing to keep up with her diet, Sara sees an apathetic doctor who prescribes a regimen of extreme diet pills, which she quickly begins to abuse.

Things collapse though within a matter of months for everyone: gang warfare breaks out in the city over the drug trade, resulting in the major drug suppliers shutting down all sales of drugs in the city order to force the rivals to surrender. Tyrone is arrested, forcing Harry and Marion to use all of their ill-gotten money made dealing to bail Tyrone out. Marion, now cut off financially from her family, turns to sleeping with her psychiatrist to earn money for drugs, which now go for a premium on the street. Meanwhile, Sara begins a downward spiral into insanity due to her increasing addiction to the diet medication.

In the end, all of them are left broken shells of their former selves by the ravages of addiction and the tragedy of their broken dreams.


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