2. Written & Directed by Richard Kelly, it is his first film The movie was shot in 28 days, mimicking the 28 days until the world ends It had a budget of about 4.5 million dollars It stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Holmes Osborne, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary McDonnell, Patrick Swayze, Jena Malone, Noah Wyle, Drew Barrymore, and Katharine Ross Released October 26, 2001. Because of the content of the film, and it’s proximity to September 11 th it did not stay in theaters long It received only limited cinema release in Australia at small independent or art-house theatres

3. # 14 on Entertainment Weekly’s list of the “50 Best High School Movies” #2 on Empire’s “50 Greatest Independent Films of All Time” # 53 on Empire’s “500 Greatest Movies of All Time” A Directors Cut version of the film was released on DVD a number of years after the original A sequel was released in 2009 called ‘S.Darko’

4. Ask yourself the following questions while watching the film: Is Donnie crazy? What suggests Donnie is crazy and what suggests that Donnie is part of a larger plan? What does Donnie conceal? Where do these repressed desires come out? How is Donnie separated from the people around him? How does Donnie try to reconnect with these people?

5. Ask yourself the following questions while watching the film: How is Frank portrayed? Where does he appear and when? How do the angles, lighting, music etc. create your expectations for Frank? Does he fit these expectations? Why does Donnie choose to follow Frank? Why does Frank choose to lead Donnie? Does he have a choice?

6. Ask yourself the following questions while watching the film: Why does Roberta Sparrow talk to Donnie? Why does she tell him “every living thing dies alone” Is it significant that she used to be a nun? How does Roberta Sparrow operate as a guide for Donnie’s actions?

7. Ask yourself the following questions while watching the film: Is Pomeroy always in control of her own actions? Are their points that seem like a teacher would not do these things? How does Pomeroy act as a guide for Donnie suggesting/foreshadowing what he will do later? Does Pomeroy have power? How does she respond to this power or this lack of power?

8. Dream vs. Reality What is real in the film? Does the tangent universe exist and Donnie is closing it off? Or is this all a dream and Donnie is going back to sleep? What do people choose to believe vs. what is real? Dual Identity How are dual identities illustrated? What is different between the public identity and concealed identity? Fate vs. Free Will Where does Donnie choose his actions and when/where is he controlled/manipulated? Alienation Where does Donnie fit? Where does he fail to fit, and why? How do people take steps to repair relationships which have been strained?

9. Mirrors Who is seen with mirrors, or in mirrors? What does it suggest about that character. What happens with the character when they are near a mirror. Birds What are the roles of the people associated with birds? Literature How do the pieces of literature seen reflect the roles and conflicts in the film? How do the pieces of literature foreshadow the events of the film? Music How does the music foreshadow the events to come ? Or reflect the events that have happened? Signs of Patriotism Where and when do flags appear? Is their placement significant? Is their timing significant? Eyes How are eyes used to express thought and feeling? What do people see? What do people fail to see because they choose not to see it? Where do eyes suggest special abilities? the ability to see what others can not. Light How is light used to reveal things that are otherwise hidden?

10. 1. When you hear a prophecy like this, how does it make you feel? 2. From looking at these pre-watching notes, what style or genre of film do you think ‘Donnie Darko’ falls into? 3. What style or genre of films do you usually enjoy watching the most? Why?