Pi (1998)

Darren Aronofsky’s (Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan) debut film follows an obsessive young mathematician named Max Cohen. Fascinated by the mathematical nature of the universe, he embarks on a quest to uncover an all-encompassing code that explains the order of both the spiritual and material world. As his search intensifies, he is plagued by migraines, hallucinations, and relentless pursuit by Wall Street firms and religious cults eager to exploit his discoveries for their own gain.

This dark and hypnotic journey brings mathematics and its far-reaching implications to life in a gripping and unsettling way. A fascinating psychological portrait of a character teetering between genius and madness. With a distinctive visual style—high-contrast black-and-white cinematography, extreme close-ups, rapid repetitions, speed changes, and jump cuts—this psychological thriller masterfully depicts the consuming nature of obsession.