Anatomy of violence: The Darren Aronofsky interview

Hindustan Times | ByAnanya Ghosh

Nov 04, 2018 12:11 AM IST

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The director of Mother!, one of the most heart-wrenching films in recent times, says that he in fact hates violence

It is not every day that you get to interview someone like Darren Aronofsky, one of the most polarising filmmakers of recent times known for his genre-breaking and disruptive works. He is in town to be part of the Jio MAMI 20th Mumbai Film Festival. As I enter the sprawling business centre of Taj’s tower wing, I find the Mother! (2017) director standing in the balcony enjoying the view of the Gateway of India glistening under the mellow sun.

Darren Aronofsky is undoubtedly one of the most disrupting, if disturbing voices in world cinema today(Getty images)

“The moment you don’t show violence truthfully, you are glorifying it. You are making it something that is more tolerable. Even if you are not saying it out loud”

Aronofsky’s Jennifer Lawrence-starrer Mother! was probably the most polarising film of last year

“We wanted the treatment [of Mother!] to be that of punk rock music where you are screaming at and attacking the audience incessantly. We knew there would be people who will not be with us in this ride”

He shocks to conquer: Aronofsky’s films are disrupting, disturbing and often difficult to watch. Scenes from Black Swan, Mother!, Pi and Requiem for a Dream (from top to bottom)

“I think especially in today’s time, with extreme nationalism, the far right rising, it is becoming more and more important for a filmmaker to be empathetic to the effects of these movements on individuals ”