Old wrestler and powerful feelings

The Wrestler

by Darren Aronofsky, with Mickey Rourke (2008)

Pro wrestling, fame, video games, and what next when you are growing old? Darren Aronofsky tells brillantly this classical story of an old man trying to find a meaning for his life after fame. The director has slowed down his hysterical longing for spectacular scenes and effects and focusses on the beating heart of the story, characters who are terribly humane. The discrete but sutbile directing is an ideal support for the performance of Mickey Rourke as a fragile old wrestler. The result is terribly moving, impressive for its ability to both describe modern aspects of the american society, as well as briging to life classical themes. The Ram on the stage, this is Moliere dying during his last show ; I would not have imagined crying in front of an old wrestler...