For many years, those who have seen The origin They have debated endlessly about what happens in the last part of the story. Did Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) reunite with his children, or was it a dream? Well, it’s your lucky day. This is the explained ending of inception in the words of Christopher Nolan.
The plot of the film is focused on the manipulation of the subconscious to plant dreams within dreams. Therefore, the narrative structure is confusing for a large number of viewers who seek to know what is really happening in the protagonist’s story.
After successfully pulling off his heist and clearing his name, Cobb shares a loving hug with his family. But the interesting thing here is that his totem—the artifact that lets him know if he is still dreaming—continues its spin, and the scene cuts to black, which leaves us wondering if reality is, in fact, how we are seeing it on the screen.
Ambiguity as a resource
Christopher Nolan’s cinema is not known for giving answers to the audience when it comes to its outcomes. Their meanings depend, more than anything, on the interpretation of the respectable. And in interview with Josh Horowitz of the podcast Happy Sad Confusedto promote Oppenheimerthe British reiterated that such a debate loses sight of the objective of that final shot.
“I went through a phase in which they asked me that a lot,” said the fifty-year-old director. “I think it was [la productora] Emma Thomas who pointed out the correct answer and the point of the take is that Leo’s character doesn’t care at that point. It is not a question that is answered comfortably.”
You might also be interested: 10 details you didn’t know about The origin.
With this, it is clear that, at least for the filmmaker, the turn of the totem pole is irrelevant because the star already has its conclusion. The response echoes what Nolan had already stated to Wired about the end of inception in mid-June last:
“I mean, the end of The origin It’s exactly that. There’s a nihilistic view of that ending, right? But also, he has moved on and is with his children. Ambiguity is not emotional ambiguity. “It is an intellectual ambiguity for the public.”
Even DiCaprio himself confessed in 2020, during the podcast WTFby Marc Maron, who was also confused by the final scene:
“What happened? I have no idea. Sometimes you just focus on your character. I really get involved, but when it came to Chris Nolan and his mind and how that was all put together, everyone was constantly trying to put that puzzle together.”
Now that Christopher Nolan gave an explanation for the ending of The originmany people will finally be able to give the topic a rest.
José Roberto Landaverde I am fascinated by writing, listening, reading and commenting on everything related to cinema. I love music and I am a fan of The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and Paramore. My favorite movies are Rocky and Back to the Future and obviously one day I will climb the “Philly Steps” and drive a DeLorean. Faithful believer that cinema is the best teleporting machine, and also that on the big screen we can all see ourselves represented.