MovieChat Forums > Broken Flowers (2005) Discussion > License plate of the car (very end) - sp...

License plate of the car (very end) - spoiler alert!

posted 15 years ago by MisterDalliman
9 replies | jump to latest

I am still not too sure how to interpret the end/ the story. Was it his real son passing by in the car in the end? The camera seemed to kind of focus on the lciense plate that consisted of 2 words.....i didnt quite catch it but I feel they might have had a meaning - maybe it was a clue. Did anybody catch that?

I feel maybe the end is not as open as it seems......there might be more clues......just wondering.

Let me know what you think....

[–] MisterDalliman 15 years ago

Anybody?

[–] trumpet_999 15 years ago

This is the very beauty of the film and how the ending, and essentially the whole film, is open to interpretation. The guy in the car could be his son, might be, might not be. At this point, it's poignant reminder that it doesn't matter, it could be anyone. The journey was in the search, not the answer. One of the most amazing endings to a film I've ever seen.

[–] IcySpoon 9 years ago

Finally! Thank you, I was beginning to think nobody got the point of the film-everyone is so obsessed with figuring out who the son is-they "can't see the forrest but for the trees".

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it." Norman Maclean

[–] drumwolf 15 years ago

FWIW, the guy passing by in the car in the end was played by Bill Murray's son in real life. So it's pretty clear the movie is suggesting this might possibly be Don's son in the movie.

[–] markfilipak 15 years ago

The license plate number is "ZRB 506". Between the 2 sets of numbers is a crest of some kind. It is reminiscent of Maryland's state seal but with the 'squares' reversed. Below the numbers and crest it says "COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY". I searched every plate of every state here: http://www.15q.net/usindex.html and could not find the plate. I Googled "COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY" with all sorts of qualifying words and even disqualifying words and got too many hits to search. I tried Google images and couldn't come up with anything.

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[–] nikol16 15 years ago

I had an interesting theory; there are numerous young men who Bill Murray passes in his quest to find his son, like the "rock star" guy at the beginning, the traveller guy, etc. I was thinking maybe the director made a son for each of the women Bill goes to visit, so maybe he has all the sons (or it could just be to make our search harder). But it does seem like the boys have traits of the women, like the rocker in the beginning could be Tilda's, the shy vagabonder Francis' child (since that family seems so timid). Just a thought, what do you think?

[–] pimpinsteve69 14 years ago

you are correct nikol!

[–] pidgeon_k5 14 years ago

yeah thats an excellent analogy and it fits too.

"is that a chinese baby?"
"sure is, japanese to be specific"

[–] MisterDalliman 14 years ago

Cool. Thanks for all the postings!