MovieChat Forums > The Awakening (2011) Discussion > What happened at the end...

What happened at the end...


**Obviously Spoilers**

I have come to the conclusion that Florence did not survive the poisoning and that Robert ended up killing himself. The only person who acknowledges either of them, is the red head boy who was also able to see Tom. I believe they are both ghosts that will roam the school for eternity.

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This is one of those very few movies where one can justify ambiguous ending (it's there so you can make your own interpretation whether it's a happy or sad ending) and seeing most people here want to believe that Florence is not dead I think characters were developed very effectively which was the aim of the movie (not whether ghosts exists or what happened in the movie and how). All important plot points in my opinion were used to convey the main topic of the story which is loneliness and the feeling of losing loved ones.

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I don't think it was as much ambiguous for folks to make a decision but to lead the audience to believe she didn't make it. Even walking through the school and folks not acknowleding her. If she was a ghost, the comment of walking to the car and leaving would not make much sense so I think they were waiting until the last possible moment to let you realize she survived. Additionally, I agree it was about loneliness but, more importantly, it was about Florence. In the end, she found the happiness she deserved and was able to get through her guilt.

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' I can only think the Walter incident hit her harder than we thought.
Mind you , the Cathcart girl didn't help. I suspect she wasn't altogether well herself. ' And that's what old man said while she was walking past him. Obviously , he wouldn't say something like that in front of her if he could see her.

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From Wikipedia -

"The following scene shows Florence walking throughout the building, about to leave the premises with Robert. She passes by several adults on her way out but none notice her, even when she walks directly in front of them. One man even speaks badly of her after she passes right in front of him. Then the redheaded boy finally acknowledges her. Florence catches up to Robert and shares a cigarette with him as they chat. Florence explains how not being able to see the ghosts anymore is not the same as forgetting them. She asks Robert to tell the driver to pull up to the end of the drive since she enjoys the long walk and that she will see him on Saturday. The couple exchange a kiss and Robert watches her walk away as she says hello to several other children along the path.

In an interview with director Nick Murphy, he has confirmed the status of Florence at the end of the movie, "This film is about people seeing what they need to and seeing what they need to is carrying forth of the film and as such, I wanted to give audiences that chance at the end. Yeah, I know what she is. Rebecca and I decided she’s alive and then she smokes and she gets a car."

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