MovieChat Forums > Another Time, Another Place (1984) Discussion > How does it really end?

How does it really end?

posted 17 years ago by shipagan
6 replies | jump to latest

Sorry, I don't have a deep reflexion to offer as a first topic.
I loved how this movie was acted realistically. Congratulations to the actors and director.
Unfortunaltely I've seen this movie on tv and I have the feeling they might have cut the end as I was left with an ambiguous ending and no credits...

SPOILERS
SPOILERS

The last thing I saw was Janie going to the embitterd widow in order to say she was with Luigi when the rape(?) took place, therefore he can't be guilty but she is compromised. The widow says something like :" I knew I'd see you!".
Then, nothing else!
Do we ever know what hapens to Luigi and Janie? Or is it like in some short-fiction where questions are left unanswered?
Since 1. the agressor's face was covered, 2. Luigi is innocent, 3. according to what we see the girl was assaulted but not raped, 4. the widow held a grudge against the Italians (although they were not responsible for her husband's death), I wonder if we are not supposed to find for ourselves that she disguised, assaulted a girl, had the enemy accused and reveled in the embarassment of a woman who had previously found love.

END OF SPOILERS.

So, what is it exactly?

I'll be overjoyed if I have an answer, but given that this film didn't even had a thread, I don't expect too much.

[–] shipagan 16 years ago

*smiles*
It's been a year. No answer.
Really not a popular movie!

[–] hibby-3 15 years ago

ha! watching AND enjoying now...............

[–] hibby-3 15 years ago

.......... a wonderfully acted movie and deserves better recognition than shown on this site! a wee gem
SPOILER ALERT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

.........the ending was was very realistic for me. The 'embittered widow' (your words), Jess says "you better come away in now", Janie at the doorway in tears knowing she has to accept she won't see Luigi again but has shared the secret with someone that she will have to live the rest of her days with. (Luckily someone of a trusting nature.) The army officer also has told her Luigi is still guilty of a punishible crime, more reason for tears.

[–] shipagan 15 years ago

I can't believe someone finally answered! Thank you!

Yes, it's a captivating film. Slow (it's not a flaw!), captivating and realistic.

There are tones of little details that make it more real. For instance, the folkloric songs and dances, performed by the prisoners for Christmas. It's not the easy way out, "O Sole Mio". You can see the director made his research to find something authentic.
I loved the actors, too.

So, Hibby-3, you confirm that it ends that way? Jess saying : "You better come away in now" ? Nothing after?
I like your analysis of the situation.

What is your interpretation about the assault on the other woman?
Luigi was with Janie at the time. So who is it then? Another prisoner, or maybe not even a prisoner? Is the mystery solved? Maybe it doesn't even matter. Just the consequences for the doomed lovers.

[–] elwyn5150 9 years ago

I wonder if you'll ever read this...

As posted above, it finishes with "You better come away inside" then as Janie cries for a minute, camera focuses in a bit on her more then fade to credits.

I don't think the attacker was the woman. It's ambiguous what happened. On one hand, it is implied that she was raped by how the attacker is tearing off the victim's clothing. The director has shot it such that there's a contrast between the distressing sounds of the rape then immediately Janie and Luigi making love. On the other hand, the victim later is crying and complaining about the relatively trivial damage to her clothing.

The credits state "Screenplay by Michael Radford" and "Based on the novel by Jessie Kesson". I might need to track down the novel.

[–] shipagan 9 years ago

Hey ! Thank you for your answer.

Alright, then. I didn't miss the end on tv ! It's meant to be ambiguous.

Thanks again.

(Just found your reply by chance today).