MovieChat Forums > Stay (2005) Discussion > Lila (Naomi Watts) realization at end???

Lila (Naomi Watts) realization at end???

posted 14 years ago by princess_chunx
6 replies | jump to latest

I _sort of_ understand the end of the film (only after reading the boards!), but one thing I can't put my finger on is toward the end - Naomi Watt's character is hanging Henry's paintings in her home that she shares with Sam.

First of all, where did she get these paintings? And how did she not realize that they were painted by Henry?

Also, she covers her mouth when she reads the 'Forgive me' painting, then BOLTS down the stairwell and ends up locked behind a gate and can't get any further.

What on earth was this scene about?! Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

[–] marli_switch 14 years ago

I'm guessing she was the one who painted those pictures, and just realized that she had signed her name as "Henry". Thus revealing that she was really him and just a part of his imagination.

[–] migpolli 14 years ago

I figured that Henry sees in Lila his girlfriend (Athena)... And maybe Athena were a suicidal (so that would be why Lila had the scars on her wrists) but I don't know... At the same time, Lila looks a lot like Henry (both are artists, suicidals, the paintings she did and signed his name, etc..) so yeah, that's a mess.

Anyway, I didn't get where were she running to and why she found herself locked...

[–] LinkinSixEcho 14 years ago

"Lila" actually never painted any paintings; remember she was a figment of Henry's imagination. That she discovered Henry's paintings was probably Henry's final realization that he is indeed dreaming; this is why all of his imaginary characters are stopped (she, physically walled off; his father walked off into darkness).

Henry is merely saying good-bye to his dream.

[–] jackneefus 13 years ago

Well, first you have to remember that this is part of the dream, so it is subject to dream logic and will not always make sense. But this is what I believe happens in the logic of the dream:

Lila only knows Henry's first name. Only at the end does Sam say his full name. At that point she realizes that Henry is the one who painted the canvasses she is working with. It also tells her where to look for Sam, since she knows he is trying to find Henry before he commits suicide.

[–] artistathome 12 years ago

Since Henry conjures up a story for Lila he is doing it out of his OWN subconscious mind. Lila is not real, but she may be a real memory to Henry of someone in his life.

As for her seeing the paintings, and running, remember that Henry wanted to be a famous artist and to be remembered. Maybe his subconscious is revealing that he indeed will be remembered by the people who were at his death.

Frankly that part of the movie made little true sense if you ask me, even if Henry was dreaming it.

[–] denisvn93-1 11 years ago

To me, it was part of Henry's "waking up". Each character in the movie eventually reaches some sort of closure i.e. Henry's Dad regains his "vision" and for Lila - I focus on why she can't get out rather than what she sees - is, at that point, she 'realizes' that she can only sort of go further when Henry wants her to, thus her inability to "exit" his subconscious.

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