I wondered if someone could give me their interpretation of the ending? Is it implying that they fell in love again? The repetition of the lines "She looks at him": Is it supposed to mean that she's just happy he's alive? I loved this movie and I love movies with interpretative endings, but I'm still wondering what to make of this.... Any thoughts? Beautiful film and it managed to compare Jenuet's usual zaniness with some very serious and thought-provoking drama.
shareYes, I think she was happy he was alive. In fact, I think she was overjoyed. But she knew he had lost his memory, so I believe that's why she just sat and "looked at him". I like to think that in time, the two fell in love again.
"and did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?"
I think a common interpretation of the ending is that they will fall in love all over again. Despite losing his memory, Manech asks her the same question about her leg that he did when they first met as children. To me, that's foreshadowing by Jeunet that they are just starting over, but will move forward in their relationship again as they did over their youth. It's a linear assumption, but I think it's meant to be taken that way.
shareThis is a tough one and I have two views on this. Neither has won out, but for whatever it's worth to you, here is my take.
She finds Manech and though he doesn't remember her, he is still the same basic personality. A kind and caring young man; the man she fell in love with even though he can't remember her. The possibility is that they rekindle their relationship and there is an eventual (off camera) romance.
He doesn't remember her and never will. After all the trouble Matilde has gone through to locate him, she is faced with the bitter-sweet reality that though her fiance is alive, they will never again have what they once did. The world has taken too much from both of them for there ever to be a recovery.
Perhaps the second is more the moral of this tale. War takes entirely too much away from those who are "lucky" enough to live through it.
If you are a hopeless romantic perhaps the first is the better way to view the ending.
The nice thing is Juenet has done; he is allowing the viewer to determine the ending to the story. It's really up to you.
Watta ya lookn here for?
I'd like to go with the first one too. :) Thanks for the response!
shareThe romantic in me goes with the first view. But, the reality of the war, and it's devastating effects make me go with the second, darker view.
It's the beauty of this film that one could come to both conclusions depending on their mood when they view the film.
Hitler! C'mon, I'll buy you a glass of lemonade.
It's a disappointment to actually see him not remember her, but she appears happy to have found him nevertheless. We don't know how she will face the amnesia aspect in the future. It's open-ended, and sad.
"Did you make coffee...? Make it!"--Cheyenne.
Matilde will always love Manech. But I don't believe he will ever remember her or recover his full mental powers. He has been damaged too much in war.
The real question is, will she spend the rest of her life nursemaiding him? Or will she move on and try to find love again with someone who is whole.
I always looked at it as a sort of bittersweet ending. Even then leaning into a more sadder ending.
I think the fact Maneach is alive and well is a happy ending for Mathilde. All her hard work and believing he was still alive was worth it. The sad ending is he's no longer the man she loved pre WW1, he doesn't remember her or the moments they had together and he probably will never be that man again after all he went through. I always saw it as that probably be the last she sees of him and she'll probably move on with her life, knowing he's happy and well.
I can see why people will go for the romantic ending with Mathilde taking care of him and waiting until he falls back in love with her. But I see it more as Mathilde is happy he's alive and well but she knows he's no longer the same man she knew and that moment "She looks at him" will probably be the last time she visits him.