i LOVE that this movie had a happy (seemingly so, anyway) ending. i sure wasn't expecting it!
shareIt was an ambiguous ending. James Gray left it for the audience to carry the story forward and envision the future for them.
"a malcontent who knows how to spell"
I think that this is one of the most depressing movies I've seen in a long time (like it a lot, but would definitely not call the ending "happy").
shareI would have to agree with storm-7, it wasn't what I would consider a "happy" ending, just what Leonard "settled" for. Great movie nonetheless, very powerful and movie IMHO.
"Living is easy with eyes closed"
It may have seemed like he settled for Sandra, but I think it was a happy ending of a sort because Leonard ended up with the person who was much better for him. The scene on the beach when he sees the glove, I think he suddenly came to the realisation that Sandra had literally and symbolically given him something, whereas Michelle hardly even noticed him and just took whatever he offered in an unthinking way.
sharei agree with storm. i liked the movie also but i don't think it is happy either. i think that he chose sandra because it was all he had left, i think it was more about not being a f-up like sandra's father asked him if he was. i don't think he is happy or will be happy he told michelle that he had only loved her and the fiance. love is not logical and what may seem like the best choice isn't always the best choice. i think it's rahter sad seeing as sandra and Joaquin will have an ultra dysfunctional codependent relationship where one person is in love and the other is there by default.
shareI felt crappy what Gwynth's character did to Leonard. Here he was so excited and begged her not to leave and they made all their plans and the instant her Ronald took her back, she left Leonard. If she comes back into his life when Ronald quits her again, I hope he has the intestinal fortitude to tell her to leave him out of the drama.
==============================
He lifts me clear to the sky, you know he taught me to fly.
I would tend to think that his relationship with Michelle would be more dysfunctional and codependent than his relationship with Sandra. After all Michelle was settling--she didn't true love Leonard.
share[deleted]
I don't think he settled...I think that he knew he was stuck but also realized that she cared for him and took care of him and wanted that-- wanted to give hime happiness, rather than take it from him to feed her own needs.
kierstin-happyphotos.blogspot.com
At first I saw this ending as a very sad one, but then as I thought more about it the puzzle came together and I see it as the best possible outcome and a brilliant message conveyed through this film. First of all I would say I can totally relate to the mindset of Leonard. Thinking you loved someone so deeply and they fall out of your grasp in the end. Thinking your happiness was built upon this individual and that it was worth blocking out everything else to keep them. This movie struck me because I could relate shockingly well to Leonard.
But what we see here is that Leonard has a troubled past, and he acted very impulsively to get this woman with quite a list of problems. Their relationship enduring was unrealistic and his attraction towards Michelle was coming from an unhealthy place. Sure he had powerful emotions, but they weren't healthy ones. This whole idea that they could escape together and run away to start anew seems farfetched. With both people having turmoil in their lives, it's hard to see them living happily together. Michelle had many issues, had been a drug user, troubled family life, and was overall just very unstable. She would be leaving a relationship to be with someone that she had intially considered a brother and not a romantic interest. Leonard was following his broken and impulsive ideals and thinking he was on the right track because he could relate to Michelle. But two unhealthy people do not create a healthy relationship. There was no happy ending waiting for him with Michelle. This was his fantasy.
When you really think about it, Leonard had a great future waiting for him at the end. He had a healthy girl who cared deeply and could love him in a healthy way. He had a great opportunity for work. He could stay near his family who love him and would miss him dearly had he left. If you uncover these layers a message far deeper than first meets the eye is buried underneath. This was a realistic story of how love is, not some fantasy of two people living happily ever after. This ending was powerful and deep. Leonard may not have ended up with what he wanted, but he ended up with what he needed. The path to Michelle was one ridden with chaos and potentially far more devastation for Leonard down the line. He had a much greater chance of growing, healing, and living happily with Sandra. He was given the chance to love someone in a healthier and meaningful way.
When you really think about it, Leonard had a great future waiting for him at the end. He had a healthy girl who cared deeply and could love him in a healthy way. He had a great opportunity for work. He could stay near his family who love him and would miss him dearly had he left. If you uncover these layers a message far deeper than first meets the eye is buried underneath. This was a realistic story of how love is, not some fantasy of two people living happily ever after. This ending was powerful and deep. Leonard may not have ended up with what he wanted, but he ended up with what he needed. The path to Michelle was one ridden with chaos and potentially far more devastation for Leonard down the line. He had a much greater chance of growing, healing, and living happily with Sandra. He was given the chance to love someone in a healthier and meaningful way.
Right on, man. Great post.
When you kill a man to defend an idea, you're not defending an idea. You're killing a man.
Actually I think Leonard DID end up with what he wanted and what he needed. This movie is a deep study of the dynamics of love and the differences of men and women. Men love to chase and Michelle provides a conquest for him. Can he get her, take her, steal her, win her from the married lover that Michelle is obsessive about? Michelle is screwed up. That fact is beyond doubt. But she's no dummy. She knows how to work men. How to rope them in with her sobbing (so they can be the big strong man and rescue her) and with her sexuality. i.e. the famous boob flash at the window - The promise of more to come for Leonard. Yes, he can get her IF he acts fast. If he gets her out of that city and away from her married lover. He must act now because he knows where her heart and wishes are - With her married lover. In contrast Sandra plays no games. She lays her cards right on the table. Literally. In the form of leather gloves because she notices that he doesn't wear any and his hands get cold. She notices these things. She cares about him and tells him she wants to take care of him. With Sandra there is no chasing, no conquering, her arms and heart are wide open. In the end it all comes down to action. Love is an action word. Leonard shows love to Michelle by doing exactly what he says he is going to do by actively planning to minute detail their escape to San Francisco. But Michelle doesn't respond in kind. She leaves him high and dry at the last second. No surprise to anyone watching the movie. We all saw it coming and were incredulous that Leonard didn't. (If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, etc.) Michelle is a user. Plain and simple. Her drama with her married lover would go on and on long after Leonard. Michelle lives on drama. If he really did leave his wife. Really did live with her full time, marry her, what would she have to be dramatic about? Without a doubt she would find something. The girl is a carnival ride.
At the end Leonard thinks he has lost it all. Upset and in tears he throws the ring he bought for Michelle in the sand and walks to the shore. We think, for obvious reasons, that he is going to commit suicide. And then one of the gloves Sandra had given him falls out of his pocket and he see's it floating on the water and sand. It is at that moment that he recognizes real love, finds the ring in the sand and rushes back to Sandra. He see's Sandra with new eyes. With her he can have a whole relationship, a reciprocal loving relationship. Real love gives and takes. It gives love and accepts love. So yes, he does give Sandra a ring he bought for Michelle but I saw it as Sandra's ring because he enthusiastically gave it to her with all his heart. He chose her for the right reasons. In the end Leonard grew up. He stopped taking Sandra for granted and realised what he had in her was what he really needed and wanted. In the end he was happy.
Agreed!
shareI was kinda of expecting/hoping(?)that Gweneth's character was going to kill herself and then he would see it from the window or something. It would have made it more interesting. I love artsy love movies but this movie was boring. Don't tell me I didn't get it. It's ridiculous that he "settled" for the other girl. In my opinion that's not a happy ending. But I didn't think that there was a possible happy ending that would come out of this movie. He was either going to be in a relationship with a girl who he loved more than she loved him or vice versa.
"Just remember, the Enemy's gate is down."
this movie proof one thing in reality, the one you end up with is usually not the one you truly loved
shareI just watched this film last night, in parts I was strugling to stay with it, however overall I really enjoyed it.
About the ending, this is a complete long shot but right at the end when he is hugging Sandra in the shot you see the back of a womens head, blonde. Any chance this could be Michelle? I know its unlikely but anyway, I actually think the ending is abit of a mix of sadness and happiness, hes not with the girl he really wants but the girl he ends up with really appreciates and loves him a hell of alot more. 7/10
It is not Michelle, I think it is Sandra's mother, who was in the room in an earlier shot.
"Why would a banana grab another banana? Those are the kinds of questions I don't want to answer."
The ending was my favourite part as it was unexpected and I felt he would his relationship with Sandra would have more longevity and happiness. Michelle was way too selfish, self-obsessed and ambitious to be happy with him for long. And, surely, after a while Leonard's great love would start to falter with her immature, selfish behaviour. On the other hand, Sandra is generous, thoughtful, understanding, mature and stable. The only thing missing is that she doesn't generate the exciting, forbidden fruit mystique that Michelle does. However these qualities doen't make for a happy relationship when more important ones are missing. Sandra is just what he needs, and he'll realise that in time.
shareI also agree, that was a 'sort' of way he found happiness in the end, when he realized, all he had to do was allow him to be loved by Sandra.
In no way, I think he settled for her, but after another woman smashed his heart to pieces, he very near the end, realized, there was, maybe a better alternative, at the end, he seemed happy, and yes, this movie is painful to watch sometimes, but that's because of how well the acting is, specially from Phoenix.
Excellent movie, 9/10.
Just finished this. I think that he gave up on finding the "true love," in a way, because the conception of love he was chasing wasn't making him happy, and after his engagement was broken off, he had the choice of basically, well I could kill myself, or I could make things work with Sandra, who actually wants to take care of me.
But the thematics of love and relationships were very complex in this movie -- look at Ronald, who loves Michelle and leaves his family. Look at Leonard's parents -- his mother has more in common with Leonard, she has that dark, romantic, almost crazy streak, and she understands him better. Is she cheating on the father? Anyone else pick up on that? There's some scenes where she's not around, and the father's like, "Oh, she's out getting stuff." And at the party, she's talking to two men on either side of her. I think that Leonard's father and Sandra are both more family-oriented, stable types of people, whereas Leonard and his mother are a bit more romantic and wild. Leonard sort of seems to find his mother's example at the end of the movie, that she's happy with her husband and her family, and he accepts that life himself, even if it is a small disappointment, he knows the right decision.
But the happiness of the ending is overshadowed by the spontaneousness of it all, the secret relationship with Michelle, and his wide-open frightened eyes as he holds Sandra at the end. He's not certain, he's scared, he's still looking for love and who knows what will happen. People like Leonard have a hard time being happy.
I've been re-watching this film recently because I've just bought the DVD and I have been asking myself if Sandra would be getting a raw deal. My feeling is still that she wasn't second choice, as it seems, and that Leonard suddenly saw her properly for the person she was and not just the person his family would choose for him.
But I do understand what you're saying. It's an ambiguous ending, but I was listening to Gray's commentary during the love-making scene between Sandra and Leonard. The scene was tender and passionate and Gray said he felt it foreshadowed what Sandra and Leonard's life together might be like after the ending of the film - certainly not lacking in love and passion. It's clear she's a person who wants to look after someone and that in itself might be a self-destructive tendency. I guess, at the end of the day, the way their life together will turn out is unknowable and it's up to the viewer to come up with the life they'd like it to be. Hope I'm making sense.
[deleted]
You know what I think is so extraordinary about this film? It's the way people have become emotionally invested in its characters. I've read quite a lot of the posts on this board and it's interesting how people talk about Leonard and Sandra and Michelle as if they're real. I do it myself. I think that's quite unusual because there seems to be no barrier between fact and fiction. Maybe it's because the story is quite an ordinary one; nothing overly-dramatic happens and the characters react like real human beings do.
share
People “short” themselves ALL the time. It all comes from not loving yourself ‘enough’ 1st. Ironing out your “issues” on your own 1st. If a person loves themselves they will never settle.. they’d wait for –what everyone deserves- everything, in your relationship! Not only is it a disservice to the “Sandra’s” of the world, but the “Leonard’s as well. He should have been seeking self-love, rather than ‘love’ in this movie. (He started the film attempting suicide..) It HAS to come first. Then he would not have chosen Sandra OR Michelle (in her current state). Both girls needed a dose of ‘self-love’ as well. If Sandra was “healthy” she would’ve felt unsatisfied with the love Leonard gave her.. It was NOT fulfilling.. If you’re a girl you KNOW when a guy gives his all to you and when he’s “shorting” you. First of all, a man in love > > he’ll lead. He’ll call you. He’ll be seeking your attention & time.. just as Leonard did w/ Michelle.
Sometimes though people can’t handle someone giving them their ‘all’, it’s too much when you lack that love for yourself. ALL of the characters.. Leonard, Michelle, & Sandra were ALL in this category. E.g. [ Leonard needed ‘someone’ to fill his void (needed a new love/obsession as opposed to getting help 1st on his own, THEN searching for love). Michelle dating a "married man". Sandra wanting someone NOT seeking her (if you noticed, they said I don’t know how many times :P "ALL these guys want to date me..") ]
They all needed more personal growth, and to learn to love themselves 1st. Once healthy, they wouldn’t desire – unhealthy- unstable loves.. When a person doesn’t really love oneself-- unreciprocated love (or love that’s unmatched-where U love more) is much more fulfilling than the real thing. The constant seeking has the same rush of l.o.v.e. but leaves you unsatisfied in the complete sense & someone WILL be holding the ‘short end of the stick’.
BOTH parties need to love one another fully, putting the other before themselves… this way both man AND woman each, get and receive love to the fullest extent possible.
Many people have said that Sandra might be self-destructive because she wanted to take care of Leonard. I understand what is meant by this and if it is over done it cam be self-destructive.
But is wanting to take care of your partner really self-destructive? Isn't a marriage a commitment to take care of each other? Parents certainly commit to take care of their children (that should certainly be the case).
I think Sandra knowing why she wanted to take care of Leonard indicates a good deal of mental health.
A good marriage fulfills the needs of each person. Happiness is defined by the couple. No one has the right to judge its merits.
If Sandra knows what Leonard needs and he fulfills her life, they will be happy. She knows he's troubled and is willing to take his life on as hers. She's a strong person.
"a malcontent who knows how to spell"
I think the tear in Leonard's eye while giving Sandra the wedding ring represents his recognition that he is settling for his second choice and that he's sad about it. I would also project that in the future he has another time or two with Michelle, and each time it ends the same way it did this time. And, each time he's all too eager to give up Sandra for the possibility to Michelle. It's sad, but it's also beautiful, because that's how life and people are.
sharehis lover ( paltro) left him to go back to her lover who dumbed her befor
for god sake how is that a happy ending ??
Life is what you do with it
so sieze the day & dont wait till tomorrow .. today
I thought the ending, like the whole movie, was tragic. I certainly wouldn't call it a "happy ending." This film, and it's ending, was the essence of unrequited love. In thinking through the ending, there are a couple of things that stand out:
-The gift of love from Sandra(even if Leonard didn't feel the same way) literally saved his life. Did you notice how the glove almost reached out to save him?
-in Leonard's impassioned plea to Michelle, he said something like, "I love you so much...and I know you don't love me like that now, but you will learn to love me...and I will love you no matter what." This is a truth he came to realize in his situation with Sandra, and in an odd way, forced him to live through (and know fully) what he was asking of Michelle.
So, I'm not buying the whole, logical, "he saw the truth and chose the one who loved him" or was worthy, or whatever. The tear of "happiness" at the end was a sign of his sacrifice. Lest we forget, that earlier in the movie, during that same impassioned speech to Michelle, he exclaimed, "I loved once! And never thought I would love again...but now I do!" This was during his love-less relations with Sandra.
Great, great movie. And definitely underrated!
I'd like to think he realized that someone really loved him and that he'd been a fool. I didn't interpret his decision as settling but as awareness.
shareI agree with above poster, he was showing sanity. He made a mistake, he was dysfunctional and was drawn to someone like him. When he saw the glove, he was choosing sanity.
shareSandra was there for him and would be. Michelle was a lost cause. He had a promising and solid future with Sandra and he really liked her and just ended appreciating her although he had suffered a blow from plans that had filled him with entusiasm, adventure... The thing with Sandra was a sweet, positive thing, logical, not rash... of course, his outlook was influenced or fue to his mental/emotional condition/ thinking patterns
share