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SPOILERS: Who was the boy Saul smiles at?

posted 9 years ago by howard.schumann
16 replies | jump to latest

SPOILERS: After the Nazi's approach the cabin where the escaped men are hiding (after having either swam or taken a boat across the river?), a young blond-haired boy appears staring inside the cabin at the escapees. Saul seems to recognize him and, as they look at each other, breaks into a smile.

Who was this boy and what does he represent? Was he in reality his son rather than the other boy he calls his son? Was he a figment of his imagination? What does this sequence tell us about the main character?

"What matters in life is not whom or what one loves. It is the fact of loving" - Proust

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] howard.schumann 9 years ago

Thanks very much. It is an interesting idea and may very well be the case but it is only one possibility and, since we do not have any evidence either way, it will have to be speculation.

"What matters in life is not whom or what one loves. It is the fact of loving" - Proust

[–] gillygoo 9 years ago

My take is that neither boy are his sons. They are symbols of innocence that Saul is drawn towards.

After witnessing the first boy incredibly survive the gas chamber (at least initially), Saul is compelled to provide a proper Jewish burial for him. He claims the boy to be his son only to rationalize to others why he's so fixated on this quest.

And the second boy is clearly non-Jewish. When Saul spots him, I think his smile is to show that he means no harm. At that moment it's not known if the soldiers from the camp would necessarily find the escapees. So a friendly gesture towards the boy was his attempt to make sure the boy doesn't freak out and reveal where they are.

[–] howard.schumann 9 years ago

Thanks. Your take on it seems very plausible.

"All persons living and dead are purely coincidental" Kurt Vonnegut

[–] Alwood 9 years ago

Saul's fixation on giving the boy a proper burial is his only way of hanging onto his humanity in the face of unspeakable evil and despair. When he smiles at the boy at the end and the camera, for the first time in the film, leaves Saul and follows the boy, I thought it represented Saul's passing of his humanity onto the boy. I found the ending quite beautiful, poetic and a note of hope which rewarded the audience for their going through the grueling journey Saul took.

[–] potsdam_grad 9 years ago

^ Totally agree - and that's quite the insightful response :)

[–] ejungtd 9 years ago

This is exactly how I felt about the ending but I didn't know how to put it into words. This explains it perfectly. Thank you.

[–] xagezos 8 years ago

Very nice explanation. However, this was not the first time camera left Saul in the film: there were some other brief moments we saw focus on other people or actions, and I think this is something that weakens the beautiful ending.

[–] dxben99 8 years ago

It already happens in the beginning when the boy is barely alive after the gas chamber if I remember correctly. And yea, I think it happened at some other points as well. I agree that the ending would have had more "punch" if it was the first time the camera moved away from Saul.

[–] amara-880-276688 8 years ago

My take on Saul's obsession with the boy who he believes to be his son, is that he (Saul) believes the burial of the boy, is his one last chance (act) of redemption, before his own death. To 'attone' for his (forced) participation in the deaths and disposal of his own people.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 8 years ago

It was Polish boy wondering the forest who happened upon Saul and the other men. I don't think he was a figment of imagination given what happens after the sighting.

What he might represent ... health, freedom, the future, hope, family, life ...

The boy does not act to give away the men's presence so he is a good sign for Saul, who might decide he wants children after all.

Ever tried, ever failed?
No matter.
Try again, fail again.
Fail better.

[–] howard.schumann 8 years ago

I thought Saul and the others were captured and killed at the end, Was I mistaken and they survived or is it left open?

“Death is the road to awe” - Xibalba, The Fountain

[–] PoppyTransfusion 8 years ago

They were. Not sure how my reply suggested otherwise.

Ever tried, ever failed?
No matter.
Try again, fail again.
Fail better.

[–] howard.schumann 8 years ago

The boy does not act to give away the men's presence so he is a good sign for Saul, who might decide he wants children after all.

Certainly implies that.

“Death is the road to awe” - Xibalba, The Fountain

[–] PoppyTransfusion 8 years ago

Prefix: In the moment The boy does not act to give away the men's presence so he is a good sign for Saul, who might decide he wants children after all.

Suffix: But then he is caught anyway and shot.

Ever tried, ever failed?
No matter.
Try again, fail again.
Fail better.

[–] howard.schumann 8 years ago

Okay. Got it.

“Death is the road to awe” - Xibalba, The Fountain