MovieChat Forums > Big Night (1996) Discussion > Big Night ending... happy or sad?

Big Night ending... happy or sad?

posted 18 years ago by number6village
33 replies | jump to latest

I've convinced a number of friends to see Big Night over the years... unfortunately, my enthusiasm tends to lend some folks into thinking it must be the best film ever made. It clearly isn't... however, it is a damn nice movie.

Now, other criticisms come back that the ending is too ambiguous... others say it is too much of a downer.

That's fine. I tend to like films that you want to see a happy ending in, but you get something else.

I actually think there's a bit of a happy ending in Big Night. What do you other fans think?

One friend of mine sums up the film this way: Everyone (or most of the characters) believe they want one thing, yet they get another... possibly the something they actually want.

[–] Fripitto 18 years ago

The story's solid core is the friendship between Primo and Secundo. That last seen was fantastic: filmed in a single shot, very subtle, but very convincing. Primo and Secundo making up by just putting their arms around their shoulders was the perfect ending to me. I think that after that final shot, the costumers just walked into the restaurant to get a decent meal and everything works out fine as they gained a small reputation from the Big Night before. Maybe I'm a bit naive, but I don't care. It's my movie-night, dammit! :)

[–] antigio 14 years ago

Agree thats a masterpiece ! Really drives you in a real kitchen and movements of a restaurant just before closing.

[–] julietadair 18 years ago

I agree with Fripetto's comment. The final scene, shot in a single take, is a classic. It doesn't matter what happens next. The brothers are reconciled. And eating a damn fine omelette...

[–] mz_m 18 years ago

I loved the ending, too. Such a contrast of the simple omelette to the lavishness of the night before. But you know that this breakfast is just as filling as a 5 or 6 course meal. It's in the company you share it with.

[–] number6village 17 years ago

They probably don't have what they want for breakfast... but they have what they need. That applies easily to their personal lives, too.

[–] Carmella_Luciano 17 years ago

My goodness, I loved this movie so much UNTIL the end. Which even then, those moments w/ not a word spoken were awesome.

However, a sad ending would have been better than this, b/c I don't think this even WAS an ending!

This movie simply had no end! It just stopped! I hate to say it, but it was not a proper place to stop that movie!

If the end was happy, fine... sad, fine... but at least HAVE the movie come to some sort of "end." I have no clue now what the point was of the whole thing b/c I don't know whatever happened to these people.

I'm still pissed about it actually. What a waste of a great story.

[–] solasta 17 years ago

I disagree with you completely. The end was perfect. Why does every film have to be so concrete? That's not real life. Life isn't black and white, right or wrong...it's gray. I thought the end was uplifting. This beautiful long, single shot scene reunites the brothers after the huge fight on the beach. They did it right. For that particular story the film ended nicely.

[–] JohnG6 16 years ago

I completely agree - the end was perfect.

Does Primo go back to Italy? Does he take Ann with him? What happens to the restaurant? Does Secondo stay with Gabriella or try to get back with the other girl?

It leaves you wanting more. Too many movies try to tie everything up with a definitive ending. Life just isn't like that. It just goes on.

[–] korbendallas2112-1 16 years ago

Quite right, it the perfect ending.I think that Primo does go back to Italy. Secondo might marry Ann and become a car salesman. As for the restaurant, its closed for sure...

[–] dustnation 16 years ago

I agree. This is one of the best endings ever shot, simple and beatiful. Also, I don't think it is very open, in my opinion the movie is the story of how the brothers made the Big Night. That is as far as the story goes and what goes beyond that is left to the viewer's imagination.

none.

[–] oxblood 16 years ago

The ending was both happy and sad but it shouldn't have ended any other way. It was a great movie and one I watch often. The ending was a little ambiguous though but I'd probably say that Primo went back to Italy but I'm not sure what might have happened to Secundo, whether he also went home or stayed with his girlfriend.

[–] juanmonge69 16 years ago

I think that the ending of the movies mean that these two brothers will always be together with food as their common bond.

I think that when you look at this movie you are not examining the relationships with the women in the movie:

Primo has lived in America for at least two years and has refused to assimiliate. The only contact that he has is with the Italian barber. He pines for Ann who works at the flower shop but won't speak to her. It is only on the big night Ann is transformed from a dour flower girl to an attractive lady. Food is what Primo can offer her and she is attracted by it.

Secondo won't consumate his love for the American girl Phyllis but he has no trouble slamming the Italian transplant Gabriella. Gabriella is as phony as they come" I want to go west and get me a cowboy".

Pascal is as phony as the Cadillac salesman that comes into their restaurant. And what is he selling -some version of the American dream.

This is a beautiful film. I don't know if it is happy or sad but I think that "Big Night" refers to them finding each other after two years.

[–] Isaac5855 16 years ago

The ending of this film brought tears to my eyes, but they were happy tears.

[–] TheBearisHERE 16 years ago

Just like most of you said, I think the end was perfect. It reconciled the main characters and their spirits. It showed that, all their troubles and tribulations put aside, their friendship and familial bond is truly the most important matter.

[–] GeorgyGirl422 15 years ago

I see the ending as poignant but satisfying. We don't know what's going to happen with the brothers with regard to their business and whether they're able to stay in America. But the family relationship is important to them, and had been badly strained the previous night, so I think the last shot as they eat breakfast with an arm around each other's shoulders is very satisying.

[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 14 years ago

And very real.

How shall the stars on the cheeks of this mandrill find a number?

[–] harkness78 14 years ago

Great ending, leaving it open is the way to go because neither of the brothers is completely wrong or totally right. The restraunt is closing for sure, they can not afford it. Leaving it open like this invites the audience to imagine wherre the brothers end up, in Italy or america.

But what is really important is that they still love and respect each other, not where the restraunt or their careers go. The ending gives us that, whatever happens they do not hate each other and are united.

"Nobody knows anybody, not that well..." - Miller's Crossing

[–] Sunflower017 14 years ago

The ending was perfect. At first I thoguht we would be shown a glimpse on down the road of how sucessful the resteraunt would become after the big night but I am glad they ended it the way they did, it's more poignent and leaves a deeper impact, atleast on me. I think things will turn out great for the brothers.

[–] netshopper-2 14 years ago

Really? At the point in the film where the other restaurateur's cook ran out in the street on fire and Secondo drove past, I figured the that the special guest was not really coming and it was planned that they go under once and for all.