I love this film and i've watched it several times. But just what is going on! And what do you think it all means? And whats with the ending? Does he travel back in time, or was the whole film a dream!??
2007-10-25 20:20:57 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Movies
"Donnie Darko" is a time travel film. You simply have to watch it~preferably several times~in order to analyze it for yourself. Like "2001: A Space Odyssey", this one might be debated for some time to come.
Think of it as a bizarro version of "It's a Wonderful Life". Donnie realizes that, if he does cheat death, he will cause deaths: the girl he falls in love with, Frank the "rabbit", his mother and his sister, along with the other girls in the dance troupe. If he dies, these people will live. If he dies, there will be no vandalism and the inspirational speaker will never be there to address the students. There will be no talent contest for his sister and her friends to win. The teacher will keep her job.
However, a pedophile will remain unmasked (the speaker); the girl he loves in another timeline perhaps will have to wait to find love with someone else, and she will be tormented by those who know her family history; and his death will be grieved by his parents and by the girl he never knew loved him.
Is that a good enough balance? I think that, for Donnie, it is. He accepts fate and returns to his room in time for his death. If you will notice, he is smiling, ready to accept the death he seemed to be moving toward in life.
Don't take this as a final interpretation because I'm certain a number of others might argue my judgment. Then, they can plead their case before you. This could be enjoyable.
2007-10-25 20:27:46 · answer #1 · answered by MystMoonstruck 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It can be viewed in a variety of ways.
Richard Kelly (the writer) - and Gyllenhaal - profess to knowing what it's really about, but it can be to do with teenage angst (is this mostly in his head?), with time travel and wormholes/physics, with an ability to foresee some future events...
Take it as you want, as long as you can fully justify your interpretation.
It's a great film - an amazing piece of writing and direction from someone who was so young at the time. Looking forward to his next mysterious film (The Box)...
2007-10-25 20:43:52 · answer #2 · answered by jinz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I loved this film and i loved the fact that it was so confusing, but at the same time you could create your own hypothesis as to what it is all about.
I also think it is a bit like It's A Wonderful Life in that every decision we make creates a new line of time and possibilities.
2007-10-25 21:13:07 · answer #3 · answered by Hatters 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does it really matter? I think that this is one of the best films ever made, simply because I have no idea what is going on here or what it means. Every time I watch it, I am left with that WTF feeling, but still, it is brilliant. I think knowing what it is all about may deter from the experience, probably like knowing what is in the briefcase in Pulp Fiction - it takes away the edge from the film.
2007-10-25 20:30:55 · answer #4 · answered by Brends 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it gives you an insight of the mind of a troubled teenager who has a near death experience, and at the end it gives you the alternate ending if he were to have died.
Forgive me if the answer seems vague, but it has been years since I last watched the film
2007-10-25 20:26:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I watched it once, but i really didnt get it, and that bunny thing freaked me out! lol
2007-10-25 21:11:23 · answer #6 · answered by ilovedjdanger. 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
he's a ghost.......... now try explaining revolver....... or eraserhead.
2007-10-25 20:25:10 · answer #7 · answered by shergal farkey 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋