MovieChat Forums > Another Earth (2011) Discussion > Why is anybody confused by the ending? I...

Why is anybody confused by the ending? It's very straight forward.

posted 9 years ago by mikebos
6 replies | jump to latest

I'm reading these threads on imdb, and it seems that a large portion of the people who've watched this movie are posting here because they seem to think that the ending necessitates interpretation. There is no need for any of this. If you're confused, watch it again. I find it to be very straight forward, without much room for any attempt at interpretation or interpolation.

The Ending:

1) Rhoda from Earth 1 gave her ticket to John after telling him about the theory that the parallel Earths diverged timelines 4 years prior, upon first discovery, before the car accident.

2) John accepts her ticket to travel to Earth 2, hoping to find the doppelgangers of his family alive on Earth 2.

3) Rhoda from Earth 2 keeps her ticket and travels to Earth 1 to meet her double, because she had nobody that she wanted to give it to, unlike Rhoda from Earth 1. This tells you that either the accident never happened on Earth 2, or if it did, perhaps John from Earth 2 turned down the ticket when offered.

4) In seeing that Rhoda from Earth 2 has traveled to Earth 1, and is in considerably better shape (happier looking) than Rhoda from Earth 1, it is implied that the accident never happened on Earth 2, and John has found his doppelganger family on Earth 2, where he will stay and live out his happy life.

My Commentary:

The two things that I find funny about the end:

1) If John from Earth 1 did find his doppelganger family alive on Earth 2, John from Earth 2 is likely still in the picture with them, therefore leaving Earth 1 John alone again.

2) Also if John of Earth 1 finds his doppelganger Earth 2 family alive and well, they still aren't his actual family. They are merely twins from a duplicate planet. They're not the people that he loves.

[–] jamasian_man 8 years ago

That's why its an ambiguous ending. Another movie that explores multiple realities quite skillfully is Coherence (2013).

Another theory could be that the only different on Earth 2 is that Rhoda 2 doesn't contact John at all, and then writes the essay and goes to find herself so she can see how Rhoda 1 is coping.

John 1 might even go to Earth 2 and only find a John 2 and nothing else.

[–] charles-rendu 8 years ago

If I remember well it is indicated at the end before the two Rhoda meet, that 4 years passed, by this indication of time I assume that the director wanted to imply that Rhoda 2 didn't come because she won the ticket, but probably because John 1, after finding is family over there probably looked as well for Rhoda 2 and told her the story and made her come to the earth 2. We don't know how, but I guess it is does not really matter.
As per the fact that on earth 2 there would be to John for the same family, indeed it s sounds weird... however I don't think that he would find is wife and kids as stranger, considering that they had the exact same line of event until the accident (which happen when second earth appear)

[–] rainofwalrus 8 years ago

Well said.

In the end, if she arrives on Earth 1 there is hope.

If he arrives on Earth 1, nothing but sorrow and a strange romance.

Enjoy these words, for one day they'll be gone... All of them.

[–] KutWrite 8 years ago

Yes, I thought of the two same objections whilst reading your numbered paragraphs.

So, he should have accepted the love from Rhoda on Earth 1 and started anew!
(I've been there myself, but on Earth 1 and no death involved)

[–] clutch2827 8 years ago

She saves John by sending him. He saves her by sending herself.

[–] Amethyst-El 8 years ago

Was thinking the same.
Ignoring this whole another earth stuff, I just look at it as a story about a girl who destroyed someone's life but was sent to him when he needed someone to bring joy into his life. In a way he brought her joy too because she saw him happy and gave him another chance at life.