MovieChat Forums > Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) Discussion > Ending

Ending

posted 8 years ago by mwahahaha-11587
6 replies | jump to latest

I have mixed feelings about this movie, mainly due to the ending. In that scene where Joel and Clem are in the hallway, they seem to resign to the fact that they are incompatible, but are still completely fine being together! The movie seems to suggest that they will come to a similar outcome as before, and it's never strongly implied that they have any desires to work it out- they're just there for the temporary fun that comes with the beginning of a relationship, and yet we're supposed to believe this is "love". What a sad and depressing view of love! Love is about working out our differences whatever the cost, and it's certainly not based solely on sex and having fun. I get that that is just how today's culture views relationships, but it doesn't make it any less pathetic. Are these characters really that shallow and self centered that they can't be bothered to try and change for one another? Aside from that, it made the whole movie feel pointless, as their original issues were never really resolved, and the implication is that they will simply end up back where they started.
I don't know, I could very well be interpreting the ending wrong. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this, or maybe a different interpretation of the ending?

[–] blade101167 8 years ago

They won't end up back where they started... the whole point is they will inevitably end up back where they ended. The film is of doomed, cyclical love and they will eventually end up parting permanently, be it in one, two or five years... but not much more than that.

I had/have a similar relationship with my last girlfriend and the one I still think of even today, fifteen months after we finally broke up, probably forever this time. We were together almost ten years and broke up three times, the longest split being a year... but each time we got back together we'd always go back to where we finished, not where it started. It's not because we didn't love each other - there was plenty of that - and nor were/are we shallow, it's just that the fundamental differences between us that always caused us to part couldn't ultimately be reconciled.

We were the greatest loves of each others lives... I still think of her every single day - and I also know she still thinks of me - but we just can't be together anymore.

[–] mwahahaha-11587 8 years ago

Huh... that's an interesting view. One of my relationships ended because we had differing views on a topic, though I desperately wanted to work it out she couldn't get past it. I personally think that if the relationship is really worth it, the two people can work it out. I'm not judging you or saying it wasn't worth it, I've obviously never been in your place, I'm just saying that is how I've always viewed situations like that.
I probably never would've come to that interpretation of the ending, thanks for the response! The movie is still kind of depressing though lol...

[–] [email protected] (1354) 7 years ago

Blade, thank you for posting that private part of your life. That part where you say you always went back to where it ended and not where it started, tore at my heart a bit... I had a similar situation too. Terrible that love is just not enough sometimes. Everyone has flaws,,but the flaws of both people have to blend together to have the relationship survive.
Nowadays, people will break up over which candidate they voted for, so its pretty sad.

[–] ADBruno1985 (3482) 7 years ago

It is pretty confusing, I'm never sure if I want to be happy or if I want to kill myself :-\

I've read one ending would've shown them much older and revealing that they've gone through this process with each other about a dozen times, so make of that what you will

[–] ADBruno1985 (3482) 4 years ago

Though I do wonder what ultimately happened. Or maybe should. I feel like maybe Joel would get back with Naomi (it's hinted at something he's considering) and Clementine, with Patrick, someone else, single, could go any direction.

[–] xhonzi (133) a year ago

I realize your post is 7 years old, and you will most likely not read my response.

Hopefully someone reads it.

I think the ending is really beautiful and hopeful.

I think they are both insecure people who became unhappy as they grew frustrated with each other, and that frustration led to feeling like weren't accepted by the other person, which led to their insecurities increasing and unhappiness increasing in a vicious cycle.

Clementine says there's no point in getting back together because they will just repeat what they did before which led to their breakup. She says what the undesirable conditions will be: she'll be frustrated with Joel because, he's boring, and he'll be frustrated with her because she's too impulsive.

But instead of saying, "you're right, these are reasons we shouldn't be together. I find you unacceptable if you're too impulsive, and expect you'll leave me if you find me boring- this relationship is doomed" he says this "ok". Which in my mind is saying, "we'll be unhappy with each other sometimes, and I accept this. I love you, I accept you as you are, I know that you'll drive me crazy sometimes, but I accept all of that and still want to be with you. And I trust you feel the same way about me. I accept you and am willing to be accepted by you, even when we both know each other's faults."

And that to me is true love. No one is perfect. No one is a perfect spouse. If you love someone and can commit to them, then your marriage can survive anything.

As they restart their relationship, it will soon go the way they predicted. She's impulsive, he's boring. But as long as they accept each other, they will survive.

Source: married for 21 years, saw the movie in year 3 of marriage and changed my views on acceptance and commitment.