Sunday, May 6, 2007

Why a rabbit?

One of the big questions while working with this film is why the director of the film chose a rabbit to be Donnie’s counsellor. Why not a dog, a cat or even a unicorn?

According to the homepage of Donnie Darko, http://ruinedeye.com/cd/, a rabbit is a symbol of among others:

  • Life
  • Healing
  • Gentleness

Chinese tradition says people born in the year of the rabbit are wise, intelligent and retrospective and that their thoughts are impossible to expose.

Different cultures, among them the Christian, use the rabbit in Easter-traditions, because the rabbit is a symbol of fertility and rebirth. As Easter is set in the early spring, when trees grow, crops are fertile and the grass is growing, the rabbit is a common sign of Easter and spring.

The rabbit is also a symbol of the moon, which disappears in the morning, and rise late in the evening, related to the immortality of nature.

Besides, many link Donnie Darko to Alice in wonderland; follow the rabbit. Donnie follows the voice of a rabbit, who tells him what to do; Alice follows a rabbit down a hole in the ground.

"A storm is coming,"

Frank says,

"A storm that will swallow the children."

And I will deliver them from the kingdom of pain.

I will deliver the children back to

their doorsteps.

(I'll) send the monsters back to the underground.

I'll send them back to a place where

no one else can see them.

Except for me.

Because I am Donnie Darko.

(Donnie’s contribution during poetry day.)

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