MovieChat Forums > All Is Lost (2013) Discussion > End scene thoughts, Spoiler alert

End scene thoughts, Spoiler alert

posted 9 years ago by gtrbxer
3 replies | jump to latest

The director left it up to the viewer to decide his fate. First, he gives up and sinks down but sees a small boat above searching with a flashlight and swims back to the surface and grabs a reaching hand. That's what we saw, he was rescued. Or, was that his imagination considering he was about to drown. Besides, as far away as that ship was, they probably couldn't see the fire and by the time he gave up, there's no way a rescue boat could have reached him that quick. Considering the other inconsistencies, I just go with what I saw instead of making something up, he survived.

[–] jmcrighton-892-694446 9 years ago

I think he died and his hand reaching up to the light was sort of him going to heaven

[–] MoDo12 9 years ago

He was saved, you saw the other boat and he lit the entire raft on fire - there's no way they would have missed that. I actually dont think the 2nd container ship would have missed his flares either - but it is a movie.

[–] Bag_of 8 years ago

First off, I thought the ending would have worked much better had it ended without the other boat turning up. His calmness, thoughtfulness, acceptance, courage were all very haunting without being overly morbid.

So if he died then i dont see how an ambiguous 'was he/wasnt he rescued' improves that. It makes his death less visceral and all family friendly as though death isnt so bad its just like being rescued. Or it makes his survival more hollywood with a rescue right on cue.

So in summary I didnt like the ending but thought it was obvious he was rescued.