"PI transports us to a world that is like yet unlike our own, and, in its mysterious familiarity, is eerie, intense, and compelling. Reality is a fragile commodity, but, because the script is well-written and the central character is strongly developed, it's not hard to suspend disbelief.” -James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Max is a reclusive mathematician who's built a super-computer that will not only provide him with the key to cracking the stock market, but may also reveal the true name of Jehovah; a discovery that could lead to the end of the world. His search, however, brings him to the attention of both Hassidic priests and Wall Street gurus. Shot on high-contrast black-and-white reversal film, Aronofsky’s debut feature film is a tense sci-fi noir. The film swims with philosophical questions of entropy and spirituality and hints at a signature editing style that will become a hallmark of his later work in titles like REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, BLACK SWAN, MOTHER!.
LO-FI SCI-FI | January 30–February 24, 2026
Big ideas with small budgets, practical effects over digital enhancement, and human-scale story are the hallmarks of LO-FI SCI-FI films. These eight titles engage our love of the science fiction genre, employing a bevy of imaginative approaches: high concepts in quotidian worlds, imaginative production design to approximate mind-bending alternate realities, and the scientific questions of their time in relatable themes of love and self-discovery.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu