The Fountain (2006)
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The film explores the intersection of love and mortality through three interconnected narratives spanning a millennium.
The story
The Fountain is a sprawling narrative that weaves together three distinct storylines across different eras: a 16th-century conquistador searching for the Tree of Life in the Mayan jungle, a modern-day scientist desperately seeking a cure for his wife's terminal illness, and a traveler in the 26th century navigating a journey through space. The stories are linked by the recurring themes of immortality and the heavy cost of love. As the characters navigate their respective struggles, the film explores the human desire to overcome death and the profound connection between the past, present, and future.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film follows three interconnected narratives: Tomás Creo, a 16th-century conquistador, seeks the Tree of Life in the Mayan jungle to find a cure for his queen; Tommy Creo, a contemporary scientist, works on a cure for his wife Izzi's brain tumor; and Tom, a traveler in the 26th century, journeys through space with a tree that may be the one Tomás planted. The narratives intercut, showing the shared struggle against mortality. In the past, Tomás eventually finds the tree and is transformed into a source of new life. In the present, Izzi dies, and Tommy becomes obsessed with conquering death itself. In the future, Tom's journey ends as a star goes supernova, and his body is absorbed by the tree, which flourishes. Ultimately, a vision of Izzi provides comfort to Tommy, who accepts her death and moves on.
- First release year
- 2006
- Runtime (minutes)
- 93
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Darren Aronofsky
- Writers
- Darren Aronofsky · screenplay; Darren Aronofsky · story
- Cast and characters
- Hugh Jackman · Tomás Creo / Dr. Tommy Creo / Tom the Space Traveler; Rachel Weisz · Isabella I of Castile / Izzi Creo; Ellen Burstyn · Dr. Lillian Guzetti; Stephen McHattie · Grand Inquisitor Silecio; Mark Margolis · Father Avila; Cliff Curtis · Captain Ariel
- Genres
- epic; science fiction; romantic drama; fantasy
- Themes
- mortality; love; immortality
- Tone and mood
- epic; spiritual
- Premise and plot tags
- time-travel-elements; nonlinear-narrative; mythology
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film was a box office bomb and received generally mixed reviews from critics, but it has gained a cult following since its release.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 51 · scale: 100 · review count: 36
- Production trivia
- The film was originally planned with a $70 million budget and a different lead actor.; The tree of life was based on Kabbalah's Sefirot.; The film's title was originally intended to be a secret.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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