The Fountain is a 2006 film by Darren Aronofsky. In the film’s plot, oncologist Tom Creo tries to save his wife, Izzy, neglecting the last hours of communication with her. Izzy writes the book “The Fountain,” which she does not have time to finish, and asks her husband to finish this story. The plot unfolds in three-time spaces: the story of the book goes back to 1500, the level of Tom and Izzy develops at present, in a dream, Tom is transported to 2500, where the action takes place on the star of Xibalba, where the Tree of Life grows. Tom does not know how to finish the book while searching for a cure for a brain tumor in parallel. He will achieve both goals, but the understanding that guilt before his wife and dreams will bring him is the most powerful moment in the film.
Tom begins to realize that he is afraid of death, and Izzy is already freed from this fear. In a dream, Tom recognizes the meaninglessness of eternal life for one person, deprived of the company of other people. The book tells about medieval Spain and the search for the Tree of Life by the conquistador. In Tom’s ending, the conquistador dies after drinking the sap of the Tree of Life from the flowers growing inside his body. Xibalba’s star explodes, giving birth to other stars.
This film is essential for viewing, as it conveys crucial thoughts to the viewer in a beautiful form of a parable. First of all, a human always needs a human, even more than eternal life. Secondly, you need to value every moment of your life and the life of a loved one because you never know what will happen tomorrow. Finally, the idea that life is inextricably linked to death is consistently reaffirmed in this film. A new tree grew out of the body of the conquistador, the end of Izzy gave birth to her literary work, and the explosion of the star gave birth to new cosmic bodies.