I am completely shocked by how incredible this film is.

Unlike most films, this movie doesn't have a resolution of conflict. It is 100+ minute snapshot of how 4 people are consumed by their flaws, and are utterly destroyed by them.

While feeling very sad, I also felt very uplifted by the film. Not in a "at least I'm not ..." kind of way. It is almost as if being able to spot the troubles and warning signs as 4 people self destruct, I can somehow prevent myself from falling prey to my own flaws. The film teaches several lessons, but the on I took from it was this: We can be so blindly focused on our dreams, we overlook whats preventing them from ever happening, and whats slowly killing our relationships and even our very bodies. It can prove difficult to pull up sometimes, and take a breather. Its a skill everyone needs, but very few people can do it.

I have much to learn.

Requiem for a Dream