Post by Casablanca on Oct 12, 2009 19:27:20 GMT -5
First off, this is not one of those film of the week stuff, so disregard this unless you saw the film. Here are some notes about what exactly happened in the film's final act, and some other stuff about symbolism and motive. It really sheds light on the film.
First off, let me start by stating that there is a clear use of symbolism in animals here. If you are wondering why it is I mentioned that, it is because this film really is about the basic desires of humans. There is some foreshadowing too, as, commonly, when an animal appears, it indicated carnal behavior (bestiality); and the mood of the characters is changed.
Also, Thomas was meant to represent everyone's obsession with a mistake they made, or oppurtunity they missed. His wife, being that thing.
-The hotel, of course, represented the baring of his soul; as every tense scene takes place in it. This would make the opening scene, in the river; symbolize the peace of isolation, and the happiness that can come by living under a facade.
Now the wife. The biggest question you might have; why did I have her die. There are a few things, I will only mention one right now.
-It was a nice way to explain why Thomas was seeing her; it was a ghost.
Now; there are two ways the plot can go; I wrote the film having both at hand. You can see the story as:
-Thomas' dream scene was really him flashing back to the memory of killing his wife. He does not remember doing this, as he repressed the memory. This would explain why a police officer was at the main desk, and how Ralph and the older man knew (Officer told them). Two bits of symbolism I used to show this are:
1. Thomas screaming, in his dream, when he sees the rodent; but playing with the cat outside the "Red Arrow". This can indicate that he is the predator (cat), and his wife the victim (him screaming at the rodent being either out of rage, or fear from being caught after killing her). It is quite apparent the rodent represents her, as it was in the same exact place she was a second later.
2. The key Thomas found being symbolic of unlocking his repressed memories.
-The other way you could have taken the plot is as the largest irony ever. How, he was killing himself this whole time over a woman who, though he did not know, died.
-And the third way; it can be set entirely in Thomas' psyche; the clerk representing him. (The clerk's obsession with his wife, and his pessimism (he always asks if there is a problem) hints to this.
As for the key he found. There is no mystery to this, really. It is as Thomas said it was- the past in his hand, key to his future- as he is know content, holding proof his wife ever was there for him (in this case, in the same setting).
Who does he end up with at the end. Marianne or Suzy? It is left open. Though, if you were to ask me, I would say no one. At the end, he smirks at the barber, and looks at the two women, similarly. This was meant to show he deduced that the two women are essentially the same thing- an error in his part, and something he brought in to cure his loneliness, only to have it backfire. He sees this as ironic, and leaves without any of them.
As for the actual ending with the clerk and the officer. This was just meant to push the themes. The clerk dives into memory and obsession (of the hotel's glory); and it is exactly what Thomas went through. That is all.
Also, Thomas was meant to represent everyone's obsession with a mistake they made, or oppurtunity they missed. His wife, being that thing.
-The hotel, of course, represented the baring of his soul; as every tense scene takes place in it. This would make the opening scene, in the river; symbolize the peace of isolation, and the happiness that can come by living under a facade.
Now the wife. The biggest question you might have; why did I have her die. There are a few things, I will only mention one right now.
-It was a nice way to explain why Thomas was seeing her; it was a ghost.
Now; there are two ways the plot can go; I wrote the film having both at hand. You can see the story as:
-Thomas' dream scene was really him flashing back to the memory of killing his wife. He does not remember doing this, as he repressed the memory. This would explain why a police officer was at the main desk, and how Ralph and the older man knew (Officer told them). Two bits of symbolism I used to show this are:
1. Thomas screaming, in his dream, when he sees the rodent; but playing with the cat outside the "Red Arrow". This can indicate that he is the predator (cat), and his wife the victim (him screaming at the rodent being either out of rage, or fear from being caught after killing her). It is quite apparent the rodent represents her, as it was in the same exact place she was a second later.
2. The key Thomas found being symbolic of unlocking his repressed memories.
-The other way you could have taken the plot is as the largest irony ever. How, he was killing himself this whole time over a woman who, though he did not know, died.
-And the third way; it can be set entirely in Thomas' psyche; the clerk representing him. (The clerk's obsession with his wife, and his pessimism (he always asks if there is a problem) hints to this.
As for the key he found. There is no mystery to this, really. It is as Thomas said it was- the past in his hand, key to his future- as he is know content, holding proof his wife ever was there for him (in this case, in the same setting).
Who does he end up with at the end. Marianne or Suzy? It is left open. Though, if you were to ask me, I would say no one. At the end, he smirks at the barber, and looks at the two women, similarly. This was meant to show he deduced that the two women are essentially the same thing- an error in his part, and something he brought in to cure his loneliness, only to have it backfire. He sees this as ironic, and leaves without any of them.
As for the actual ending with the clerk and the officer. This was just meant to push the themes. The clerk dives into memory and obsession (of the hotel's glory); and it is exactly what Thomas went through. That is all.
