meanng of the title The Fall

It refers to the fall that injures Roy, hospitalizing him.

In Western literature and tradition, the term "The Fall" is loaded with symbolic meaning.

"In Christian doctrine, the fall of man, or simply the fall, was the transition of the first humans from a state of innocent obedience to God to a state of guilty disobedience to God." (Wikipedia)

From this religion-specific meaning, 'the Fall' has also come to mean a fall from innocence, a loss of simple faith and childlike unawareness, and an awakening to the evil and sad ways of humans/adults/oneself/the world. This is often referred to as a 'fall from grace.'

Also, Fall (Autumn) is the decline of the year toward winter (and death, at least until spring and rebirth). See much western poetry and literature for the idea of fall representing death: Elizabeth Barrett Browning, William Blake, John Keats, Emily Dickinson. Not that it's always sad/bad, often just a(n appropriate) season of life. Therefore it also means death.

Many classic Western literary creations have used this concept:

See: Shakespeare's Henry V: the King describes his childhood friend's betrayal as "like another fall of man", referring to the loss of his own faith and innocence after learning of the betrayal.

Gibbons: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Edgar Allen Poe: The Fall of the House of Usher

And, in modern times, it persists as powerful as ever:

Movie: Legends of the Fall

9/11: The fall of the twin towers (note the language used in the vast majority of reports and writings is always "the fall")

Soldiers who were killed in combat are frequently referred to as 'the fallen' in ceremonious or respectful
descriptions.

In short, "The Fall" is a loaded phrase in Western literature. I challenge other posters to come with examples as well...

See if any of these meanings deepen your experience of The Fall. (I think so, but that's a different post)

The main characters (Alexandria and the Bandits) experience a fall either literal and/or metaphorical. Spoilers below if you haven't seen the film.


Alexandria: fell while picking oranges. Then falls again when getting Roy the morphine (to make up for the morphine3).
Roy fell off the bridge during stunt. Blue Bandit: disgraced/punished (metaphor) (also jumps off the bridge when he split up with his brother).
Darwin: banished (metaphor), later shot and falls of ledge. Wallace: shot and falls of ledge.
Otta Benga: slavery (metaphor), later falls backwards (on arrows) as he dies
The Indian: banished(metaphor) (after he swore vengeance on Odius I imagine), wife kidnapped and eventually throws herself off a ledge. Later, Indian cuts the rope to save Alexandria and Blue Bandit (dies as a result).
Luigi (bandit): banishment (metaphor), shot in the foot - falls. Luigi (actor): stunt man, job requires him to fall.
Mystic: savagely murdered (metaphor), I guess he also fell after the explosion causing him to lose his teeth and strength.

Sum up: like someone said, it's loaded with meaning both literal and metaphorical and symbolic. Take your favourite pick.

I thought the title referred to 'The Stunt' as I believe a 'Fall' is what stuntmen refer to stunts as a la 'Fall Guy' starring Lee Majors who played a hollywood stuntman....

I didn't realize it was as 'deep' as the other replies.

Ba-ba-ba-ba-banana

Roy fell and that's why he is in the hospital.
The girl fell and that is why she is in the hospital, and she fell later on when getting the morphine.
The note she wrote fell onto Roy's lap causing their first meeting.

A lot of significant falls happen in this film.

Should you look before you leap? Not if you want to make the leap.