Protozoa 1993
Darren Aronofsky's striking debut short *Protozoa (1993)* plunges viewers into the grimy world of Dave, a disillusioned young man adrift in a bleak urban landscape.
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Protozoa (1993) about?
*Protozoa (1993)* follows Dave, a disaffected young man who escapes his stagnant life by drinking, smoking, and staring blankly at a TV. His hollow routines are disrupted only by brief encounters with his equally listless friends, Pete and Ari, as they all struggle to find meaning in a world that feels increasingly empty.
Who directed Protozoa?
Protozoa was directed by Darren Aronofsky, marking an early glimpse of his signature visual style and thematic obsessions.
Who stars in Protozoa?
The short features Michael Bonitatis as Dave, along with Damon Whitaker, Lucy Liu, Ariel Zablozki, and Lang Yun.
Is Protozoa (1993) worth watching?
*Protozoa* may be a brief 25-minute AFI student film, but it offers a fascinating look at Aronofsky's raw talent and thematic daring. Fans of his later work will spot the seeds of his career-defining intensity in this gritty character study.
How long is Protozoa?
Protozoa has a runtime of 25 minutes.
About Protozoa (1993) — Darren Aronofsky's raw AFI short film debut
Darren Aronofsky's striking debut short *Protozoa (1993)* plunges viewers into the grimy world of Dave, a disillusioned young man adrift in a bleak urban landscape. Surrounded by the detritus of modern life, he numbs himself with beer, weed, and the flickering glow of a television screen, while the carefree laughter of schoolchildren outside only deepens his sense of isolation. When his friend Pete drifts into frame, followed by Ari—a self-proclaimed pragmatist who shares their aimless existence—the film peels back the layers of generational disconnection and quiet despair. Shot through with raw energy and a punk spirit, Aronofsky's AFI thesis film captures the restless, alienated pulse of early '90s youth culture.
Though clocking in at just 25 minutes, *Protozoa* teems with atmosphere, its junkyard backdrop mirroring the emotional emptiness of its characters. The short film's stripped-down aesthetic and unflinching look at aimlessness make it a compelling precursor to Aronofsky's later explorations of obsession and human fragility in features like *Pi* and *Requiem for a Dream*.