MovieChat Forums > La dolce vita (1961) Discussion > The ending *spoilers*

The ending spoilers

posted 14 years ago by Miura88
10 replies | jump to latest

Watching this again recently, I have this theory that the young girl at the end wasn't really there, she may have been a figment of Marcello's subconscious trying to remind him of his innocence in a last-ditch attempt to get him away from the upper class

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyqsExlstZE

From 2:40 there is an establishing shot showing nobody further down the beach which lasts for 11 seconds. 13 seconds later at 3:04 the young girl is seen with a clear stretch of beach separating her + Marcello. The next shot at 3:11 shows the same girl, only now a pool of water has magically appeared inbetween Marcello and her. But it's not just the young girl who has suddenly appeared, a couple of kids and another person dressed in black are playing in the water even further in the background (they weren't seen in the earlier establishing shot either).

So did Fellini make a large continuity error + I'm reading too much into it or does my theory hold some weight?

Marie got her ass kicked in "Au Hasard Balthazar"

[–] kaskait 14 years ago

The ending of this film is steeped in mythological symbols.

Marcello, for all intents and purposes, is dead. He crossed the river Styx, paid the ferry man and can no longer return to life. The people he is with at the party are not having a good time, not like in earlier parties of the film. They are tortured and torturing each other emotionally/physically.

The young girl is still alive, has hope and hasn't made that crossing yet. Which is why Marcello can see her but can't hear her and can't return to her. He's a ghost.

[–] BlondeIsBetter 14 years ago

Actually, that is a very good explanation... I do like this view of the end, but I think there is more to it than words can express...

This entire film is like that. It's like a dream that you can't really explain, but you understand on another level.

We can all go on and on about what things mean, but I think it has to mean something to you personally. But I do agree with your ideas. I am still a bit puzzled by the end, but at the same time, I like that fact that it is a mystery, it is a bit surreal, and maybe I will never really understand it. But that's life. Will you every understand your own life?

That's why this is a masterpiece... It really is..

[–] Maniac_In_Black 8 years ago

Agreed. If anyones interested in a movie that doesn't answer all the questions, I suggest Once Upon a Time In America. One of my favorites.

[–] Owlwise 14 years ago

Exactly -- in fact, while Marcello has worn a black suit for the previous length of the film, in this final sequence, he's wearing a white suit. A shroud? A ghost? Indeed!

[–] marbanasin 13 years ago

you know I did notice that and thought it was a bit odd.

I just watched the film for the first time a couple hours ago and my head is still spinning from it. I just assumed that girl was Marcello's last chance at maybe stopping his behavior, the jumping from one scenario to the next, one woman to the next, and just settling down with someone.

The death theory is actually pretty sound, although you mention him crossing the river stix, do you mean simply as he was on the other side of that outlet on the beach or was there some earlier scene I'm blanking on?

Can't keep me off this escalator!

[–] skay_baltimore 13 years ago

@kaskait

Cheers. Very interesting interpretation indeed!!

"Love isn't what you say or how you feel, it's what you DO". (The Last Kiss)

[–] ShellOilJunior 13 years ago

The ending is quite beautiful. I always smile at it because it caps things off perfectly.

cinemapedant.blogspot.com

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] geraldpayne 10 years ago

Just wanted to bump this topic up there. The ending with the girl at the end, I think, was the real key to the whole film. Wrapped it all up perfectly. Perfect symbolism. His lost youth and innocence. When life held such promise. He can never return...

[–] Fidelio (5) 7 years ago

The Umbrian angel waved, but could not be heard, he was too far gone from the man he used to be, she then looked at us...who will we be?