MovieChat Forums > Fitzcarraldo (1982) Discussion > Superb Ending

Superb Ending

posted 20 years ago by FemaleOrca
11 replies | jump to latest

I just finished Fitzcarraldo for the first time, and I have to say there have been few endings so satisfying in all my film viewing life.

The beauty was that it was really nothing new. Man attempts to live out dream. Man fails. Man makes the best out of his situation and lives out dream on smaller scale.

But my god, never has this common theme come across so gorgeously. When the opera hits that first note on the top deck of the disheveled steamboat, Kinski grinning ear to ear wiht that enormous cigar.... nothing beats it. It was far more satisfying than if the operahouse were to happen as planned. Far more inspirational, but in that twisted Herzog style.

[–] archieleach 20 years ago

Agree, agree. I think it is definitely time for me to see this great film again. I have seen it three times, it is such a favorite!
Did it do well commercially? I never hear anyone talk about it!

[–] CCCClaudius 20 years ago

It got mentioned in The Simpsons...

=]

The kids are dragging a school bus up a slippery mountainside with chains, Uter says "I feel like I'm in Fitzcarraldo", and Nelson chimes in with "That movie was flawed."

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] MetalMiike 20 years ago

Yeah; I wish Gilliam's Brazil had been more like this. Fitzcarraldo is one of the finest films ever made.

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] rooprect 20 years ago

I agree wholeheartedly. But I have a slightly different (perhaps even more optimistic) interpretation:

Man attempts to live out a dream. Man is sidetracked by conquest. Man fails. Man returns to the original dream.

As I see it, Fitzcarraldo's dream wasn't to build an opera house (any more than it was his dream to be a rubber tycoon). His dream, plain and simple, was to see Caruso in a velvet chair. This simple dream became clouded by delusions of grandeur. But in the end, he had the wisdom to strip away the fluff and return to the dream as he swore it in the beginning of the movie.

What a profound statement! Definitely, this is the most satisfying film, because it conveys the ultimate triumph, and it's totally believeable. We can all be Fitzcarraldo.

[–] kackebittehier 20 years ago

Well, I think it's almost that, but with one small correction:
His dream was not just to watch an opera in a comfortable seat while smoking a cigar. Of course, his individual joy is an important factor in his enthusiasm. But also, he felt a lot like a missionary of culture to Iquitos. He wanted to give the joy of his opera house to the kids, to the people, to his girl, even to that little swine that's so in love with him... and in this one glorious moment, he achieved this dream, and indeed, in a much more impressive and lasting way than if he had succeeded, turned rich and built his opera house.

Brings tears of joy into my eyes whenever I see it.

[–] UCB Agent1 20 years ago

The ending made the whole film worthwhile. It kind of wanders for a while, but those last few minutes are truly inspiring. Great stuff

[–] Devans00 16 years ago

I totally loved the ending. The shirt and tails orchestra and opera singers with full costume going full blast on the roof of the beat up, leaning boat. The whole town on the shore clapping and waving including his girlfriend and partner. Fitzcarraldo taking it all in nonchalantly while puffing on a cigar next to a red chair.

Impossible dreams can come true. I can hardly think of a better ending.

No two persons ever watch the same movie.

[–] g-moff 15 years ago

agree. and I think the ending is also a true sign of Kinski's happiness that he and Herzog (who were / are both obsessive maniacs) finally got the movie made. Incredible as it is though: the crew really had the ship pulled over the mountain. One of the workers got bitten by a snake and had to cut of one of his limbs asap with a machete. The hate relation between Herzog and Kinski was so intense that the indians who co-starred in the movie asked Herzog whether they should kill (!) Kinski. And yet, the movie was finished.
I strongly recommend to watch "My best fiend", the documentary Herzog made about Kinski after his death. Intense and moving, especially the end.

[–] Bree_33 12 years ago

Herzog is a great romantic. We love dreamers and Fitz may be the greatest dreamer ever created on fim.

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