The overall theme of the film Requiem for a Dream is addiction and the devastating effects it can have on people's lives. The film follows four characters as they struggle with various addictions, including drugs, television, and food. The technical film techniques and shots used by Aronofsky help to convey the intensity and desperation of the characters' addictions. Extreme closeups of the characters' faces show the physical toll that addiction is taking on them, while fast-motion scenes and split-screens create a sense of chaos and disorientation that mirrors the characters' experiences. For example, in a sequence where Harry (Jared Leto) and his friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans) are injecting heroin, the use of fast-motion and extreme closeups of the needles and their faces creates a sense of urgency and danger. Similarly, in a sequence where Sara (Ellen Burstyn) is taking diet pills, the use of split-screens shows her increasing desperation and isolation. Overall, these technical film techniques and shots help to convey the destructive nature of addiction and the toll it takes on the lives of those affected by it.