Film News South Africa

A contemporary experience of Noah

Escape into the world of film this weekend with the inspirational story of courage, sacrifice, hope and redemption. Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Wrestler, The Fountain) brings to the screen Noah, with Academy Award winner Russell Crowe as the man chosen by God to undertake a momentous mission of rescue before an apocalyptic flood destroys the world.

Never before has the full story been brought to life on screen in a vivid epic - inviting the audience to experience these spectacular events through the eyes and emotions of Noah and his family, as they journey through fear and faith, destruction and triumph, hardship and hope.

A contemporary experience of Noah

The production took the film's world-class cast and crew on their own unexpected journey as they set out to research Noah's world, honour the text and board an authentic Ark, hand built to biblically detailed specifications. In every aspect of the film's performances, action and innovative special effects, the creative team's aim was clear: to forge a contemporary experience of "Noah" that is immediate, vibrant and personal. The result is the first cinematic portrait of Noah as an imperfect man whose awe-inspiring task grapples with the worst of humanity while affirming our faith in its best.

Aronofsky has always been a filmmaker drawn to the most far-reaching stories and the boldest means of storytelling. From the mathematician's quest of his debut film p, to the bittersweet search for reconciliation of The Wrestler, to the intense ballet world thriller Black Swan, he has become as known for his innovative visual approach as for his willingness to dig into such fertile subjects as mortality, love and the meaning of the sacred.


Aronofsky's engagement with Noah's themes began at the age of 13, when he wrote a prize-winning school poem about Noah. Later, as he began his filmmaking career, he started to envision how this colossal story could live on the modern movie screen. He knew it would be the greatest challenge of his career, a hugely ambitious motion picture requiring both passion and extreme attention to detail. At the same time, he was deeply drawn to the personal side of the epic story, that of Noah's family - wanting to explore their very human fears and hopes, their conflicts and search for meaning amidst these extraordinary events.

"As the story of the first apocalypse, imagining how a family would survive that was extremely interesting to me," said the director.

About Daniel Dercksen

Daniel Dercksen has been a contributor for Lifestyle since 2012. As the driving force behind the successful independent training initiative The Writing Studio and a published film and theatre journalist of 40 years, teaching workshops in creative writing, playwriting and screenwriting throughout South Africa and internationally the past 22 years. Visit www.writingstudio.co.za
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