Ryan Lynch - Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko was one of the most interesting films we watched this semester.  The confusing narrative comes to a tragic end, yet oddly satisfying in a silver lining type of way.  Once I was able to fully understand what happened at the end the film became much more gratifying, and began to work on multiple levels instead of just a mind-bending indie.  I want to focus on the end of the film and how it contrasts to the first time the plane engine fell on their house.  Obviously the death of Donnie is the defining difference, but it is the different reaction of the family that is interesting.  In the first instance they weren't sure if he was dead or alive, and when he showed up alive they didn't show any gratification, and barely showed any interest.  However, this time they are clearly distraught by his passing.  There is a quote from Donnie in the beginning of the film "The search for God is absurd if everyone dies alone."  Does Donnie's death represent this or something else?  One might think initially that Donnie has died alone, but his behavior before his death shows the contrary as he is happy and laughing.  He is comfortable having the knowledge that he has created relationships with his family and Gretchen that is able to transcend death, and therefore is in company with them and not alone.  He is able to hold them in his memory and continue the relationship because if you truly have a meaningful relationship with someone than you can still feel their love when you are separated by distance or even death in Gretchen's case.  Even at the end when Gretchen has no recollection of Donnie she still opens up herself to feel share in the grief of the family when she waves to the mom, and thus transcending the death and absence of her memory of Donnie to have a relationship with him, even as thin as it may seem.