My interpretation
The ending of this film left you guessing as to what happened, My thoughts were that he did drown and perhaps it was the hand or god reaching out to him,
shareHe drowned plain and simple.
People just seem desperate for a happy ending that when a movie finally doesn't pander to focus groups, they look for it anyway they can.
He accepted his fate, he had no energy left and he drowned. He was sinking for a long time, and was well under water. The film up until that point was completely realistic so to think he could find the energy and float to the surface that easily is misguided.
Whether you believe in God or not ( I don't) that is clearly him passing into some kind of afterlife.
Clearly.
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Agreed!
And I think when the director 'left it open to interpretation' it was an excellent experiment of our human character, maturity, and ability to face death...and not necessarily the 'Happy Ending' that Hollywood obsesses about.
This link below is a good read, and like most forums exposes our own human characters to each other, and for me, the genius of the ambiguous ending. Our reaction to the ending exposes who we are...weak-minded or strong, mature or not, young or experienced, fake or real. And so on...
http://barbaradelinsky.com/2013/11/all-is-lost/
Note the difference in attitudes...as mirrored on the forums here too:
1) the types who gorge on Hollywood 'happy endings'; desperate for him to have survived, no matter how improbable it was (the depth of his sinking, a rescue boat from wrong direction, the time needed for the rescue boat to get there, etc). This type of poster is so desperate for a good ending (afraid of death?), that they use emotional blackmail words to convince themselves, and others (ie "Obviously" "Definitely" etc) as they write - 'self-propaganda' if you like.
You can see the same desperation on here, particularly from younger posters with little or no experience of death, such as watching a dying father or mother. My father is on his way out, and this film reminds me of how oddly brave and content he is about doing so. He has lived a good life, and worked so hard for his 'treats' in life [a lifelong effort and sacrifice often dismissed by the derogatory word 'rich' in current times - see 'Dee' on the link I provided - a sign of poor character and guilt]
2) Then you have the younger ones; who traditionally mask their own real-life cowardice with bravado, as most of us did, believing they would act just like the action hero, who survives improbable odds to get a happy ending, when in fact they'd be screaming and running away in terror in a real situation.
* It would be interesting if these types of poster ever really watches non-Hollywood films...South American, Spanish, for example...where the ending is 'real', rather than an improbable 'happy ending' that Hollywood brainwashes us with...an ending that rarely happens in real life. Often this is an issue with age and experience - remember we were ALL once content with the formulaic tedium of teen action movies, rom-coms, etc. Until we saw through them and sought out something more aligned with reality.
3) Then the overly proud 'sailor' type; wrapped up in their own ego and desperation to show off their 'knowledge'. In reality, they are exposed by this film as being shallow, ego-centric and hypocritical. Thereby missing the point, as they wax lyrical about a theme that doesn't exist - accuracy about yachting procedures. In other movies, where there were 'goofs' (99% of action or sci-fi movies), they would be perfectly fine with it of course!
4) Then there's the mature experienced types; who promote (in calm, cool and measured tones) the idea of a religious twist to this film - whether they are religious or not. And their theme that we all slowly try to fix each problem in life, until we can no longer fix our 'sinking ship' and have to let go of life itself (and the pointless consumerism it contains). A consumerism that matters not as life edges away from us...as we age and die.
This fourth category of person 'type' shines through on the link. So have a read!
I agree with them...'Our Man' never gave up, rid himself of guilt, and reached redemption.
He first headed towards the fiery dinghy from the depths (Hell)...then abruptly turned towards the 'Light' and the Hand of God (Heaven).
Hence he is nameless...and just referred to in the credits as 'Our Man'...in other words, all of us.
Maybe my analysis is wrong, but this is how I see it. And why I thought it was a clever movie. And is MORE than just a movie...often exposing those who are fearful, immature, etc, even on forums like this.