MovieChat Forums > Performance (1970) Discussion > Can someone explain the end to me, pleas...

Can someone explain the end to me, please? * SPOILER WARNING !! *

posted 8 years ago by ttetpos
2 replies | jump to latest

I understand that the movie plays a lot with the theme of "who are you?" and with switching /blending some of the characters. But I don't understand who exactly got shot at the end - was it literally Turner who was shot, or was he shot symbolically, meaning that it was only a shallow "self" that was killed?

And if the shooting /killing is intended to be taken as literal, then WHY did it take place? What was the director's message with this killing?

And WHO exactly is being escorted away from the house at the end?

Thanks!
Petros
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[–] Connak 8 years ago

It's one of those movies that has an ending left up to interpretation.

I think most people think that yes- Chas did shoot Turner. Yes, we saw Turner's body. However that last shot when you see Turner for a second- it's to suggest that Turner transferred himself to Chas' body. I read another person observed that the car in the beginning of the movie and the car the end of the movie are different colors (black and white).

I too was confused when I first watched Performance but what made me come back to it were the visuals and mind bending factors. It's a movie that gets better on multiple viewings.

[–] DaveBowman2001 (520) 7 years ago

I noticed the car too. That white car represented Death if I had to guess.

Yes, my first interpretation was that Chaz and Jagger transferred bodies (via Black magick). I had to rewatch to figure out if it was Jagger in the car for sure of not. I assume it was intentionally vague.