Today is Pi Day, and one of my favorite filmmakers, Darren Aronofsky, is re-releasing his debut feature film Pi, in IMAX, on its 25th anniversary. Written and directed by Aronofsky, the film follows mathematician Max Cohen who is convinced that everything in nature can be understood through numbers. This leads him on an obsessive quest to find complete order in the world. Shot on high-contrast black and white reversal film, it explores the devastating effects of extreme paranoia, hallucinations, and schizoid personality disorder.
Obsession and delusion are recurring themes in Aronofsky’s work, appearing in films such as Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, and Black Swan (my personal favorite). As someone who suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, his films deeply resonate with me. Like many of his characters, I have intrusive thoughts that drive me to take specific actions and repeatedly perform certain routines. This often generates severe anxiety. Therefore, I seek comfort in stories that portray similar patterns of behavior that I can relate to. While some perceive Aronofsky’s work to be anxiety-inducing, I find it cathartic.
The fact that Pi is being re-released on 3/14 is not only significant for obvious reasons but also because the number 314 has appeared throughout my own life. My childhood home was 314 Lemon St. This was where I spent the first 18 years of my life and discovered my love of filmmaking. The address prompted me to title one of my very first film school shorts Room 314. It was a place, in the middle of nowhere, that provided me with some of the most magical experiences and shaped the person I am today.
Another prominent influence in my life was my grandfather. He was a brilliant engineer and the greatest man I have ever known. From telling me stories about his time in the military, to showing me how to shoot a gun, to teaching me how to play chess, to taking me for walks in nature and opening my eyes to the mysteries of the universe, he was incomparable in every way. He even took me to see each and every one of the movies in the Harry Potter franchise when they came out in theaters. Every once in a while he would sit in his favorite chair and enjoy a glass of scotch, occasionally letting me take a sip or two. He passed away six months ago. I was fortunate enough to spend his final moments by his side. Perhaps it was just a coincidence, or perhaps there is a greater meaning behind the fact that he took his last breath in hospital room 314.