Pi (1998)

USA 83m, B&W
Director: Darren Aronofsky; Cast: Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman, Samia Shoaib

The story of Pi is about Max Cohen, a man with a gift for numbers who can solve complex mathematical problems in his head. Max also suffers from extreme headaches, paranoia and hallucinations as he attempts to discover mathematical patterns in nature, and more specifically, the stock market with the aid of a homemade computer. This low-budget high contrast black and white film is best remembered for Max’s ultimate headache remedy. Believing that his headaches are linked to the numbers, he employs a power drill to “relieve” the pain in his temple. The editing and startling soundtrack are perfect fits for this memorable and fascinating paranoia-filled production (Klaus Ming June 2010).