I don't get it. Why did he say "There is no Yeti", that it didn't exist? Does it have to do with human thought about the possibility of creatures such as the Yeti, alien races, and bigfoot?
Were they just hallucinating? I'm very confused...
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In the film, the Yeti did in fact exist; however, Rollason claims that they don't exist in order to protect them. Upon their discovery, Rollason notes the hint of sadness, or peace, in their eyes, very contrary to the belief of the creature as a monster. Making people understand this would likely prove to be impossible because of their preconceived notions of the creature, or more likely, it wouldn't get that far because of people like Friend and the business types he was going to sell it to. Knowing that such a creature exists, people would want to know more about them, ultimately changing their lives by alienating them and turning them into some kind of freak show for our own entertainment and understanding.
shareWell said, Movie Freak-2.
"Pull the string, pull the string!" -Bela Lugosi
Movie Freak-2, you speak well and this interpretation makes good sense. I would like to accept it. But I am puzzled by Rollason's strange expression when he declares that the yeti do not exist. He doesn't look like a man who has achieved enlightenment on his quest, and is now wisely and humanely joining the high lama in the disinformation campaign to protect the creatures. Rollason looks haunted, much as if under a spell. We have never seen this articulate character with such a blank look in the whole movie. He does not appear nor speak like he has got his wits back together after his ordeal. This being the case, I wondered whether we were to take it that the Yeti have messed with his mind and planted this belief over top of his memories. We have certainly seen them exhibit strange mental powers earlier, including on Rollason.
This interpretation would account also for the lama's somewhat creepy expression upon Rollason's declaration. I would have expected the lama to be gratified at Rollason maturity, and perhaps proud of the man's "spiritual progress," if Rollason were fully master of himself and making an informed decision about how to steward the knowledge he now possesses. Instead, the lama looks almost as if faintly sneering at a man who got what he deserved in getting his mind blanked.
Now I realize that Rollason has been a sympathetic character throughout, and has behaved quite decently, so I would not agree with the lama that he deserved to have his mind messed with. And maybe I am seeing something in the lama's face that is not there. But the poor younger fellow behaved decently also, and the "spell of the yeti" drove him to his death. Regardless, I am definitely puzzled by the blankness of Rollason's face and his robotic tone. Even if he is supposed to be just still recovering from his ordeal, the portrayal doesn't jive for me with the idea that he is expressing an enlightened decision.
Peter Cushing is so capable an actor, and has done so well with this character throughout, that I am forced to think that his strangely blank look was quite deliberate. I would have expected him to play "worn out and shaken by his experience, but in possession of the full picture now" differently than what we see in that disturbing view of his immobile face.
I would enjoy hearing from anyone who has thought about this, agreeing or disagreeing. I enjoyed this film tremendously, and I just want to understand what the director intended here!
Timeranger, on only three viewings, I came to much the same conclusion. As to the Lama, I felt he'd had the same encounter, and had been hypnotized in the same way. He doesn't seem [to me] to ridicule Rollason so much as resignedly agree with him.
"The value of an idea has nothing to do with the honesty of the man expressing it."--Oscar Wilde
"There is no Yeti" is just a way of saying that the concept of the Yeti creature doesn't exist, either from the point of view of a commercial/greed type like Frend, or a scientific/humanitarian like Rollason. It's above human understanding. Neither can accept the reality immedeatly when it hits. The Lama didn't want him to get his mind messed with. It's just that (a) he had some understanding of the reality of the Yeti situation from the start, and (b) he knew the nature of man. We know this because of his whole 'Man's destiny will be steered by his actions" speech. You gotta remember that the Lama knew Frend prior to Rollason knowing him, so the Lama had a pretty good idea of what the situation would end up like. If he looks a little smug it's probably because he advised ample caution, was rebuked in a way, and events and experiences transpire in much the way he hinted. Rollason looks shaken, and not stirred, because rational, scientific thinking and humanitarism still weren't enough to prepare him for the revalation of what the Yeti is and isn't. That and the realisation/sinking in of the Lama's hintings and actions in regard to the whole scenario; the knowledge that basically the monastary is protecting this race of creatures by not acknowledging their existence, and the final acceptance of why they are doing it, is quite alot for a man to chew at one go.
"Inside the dusters there were 3 men"..."So?"....."Inside the men there were 3 bullets" - d{^_^}b
the concept of the Yeti creature doesn't exist,
The Lama saying "This [pause] animal. Which doesn't exist" (the pause is quite deliberate) tends to back this up. He is saying that, whatever else the Yeti are, they aren't animals. They're civilised. Possibly more civilised than humans.
The church may shout but Darwin roars
I just watched this movie again. I had forgotten how good it was. I wanted to come see what was posted here, and this was the exact thread I was looking for.
The feeling I take away from this movie is that the monks, headed by the Lama, are being protective of these creatures. They seem to portray an understanding of these creatures existance, but continuously deny it to outsiders. They quite obviously do not want these creatures to be discovered. I came to this conclusion because of two distinct scenes.
1. The artifact containing the tooth that was stolen from the monestary is enscribed with what Rollason translates as, "The protection of the powerful beings is besought by the Lama of Ronglook", the very monastary they were staying in.
2. Kusang has supposedly seen one of the creatures, and reacts quite shocked when he hears Frend declare what they are going after. The Lama, or perhaps someone else, sends the three locals to shoot at the expedition in an attempt to scare them off. If they do not believe in the creatures, what are they attempting to scare the expedition away from?
During the ending scene, I did not get the feeling that Rollason had been "brainwashed", or had his memory altered. I believe he was reaching a sort of epiphany about the entire situation, something which he had been hinting about through the entire movie. These creatures were not monsters, but intelligent beings, who wanted nothing more than to be left alone.
When the Lama asks Rollason, "Did you find what you were looking for?" and Rollason replies, "No. The creature I was looking for does not exist.", I beleive he was referring to the moster that the creatures were percieved to be by the rest of humanity. When the Lama then asks Rollason, "Are you sure?", I believe he is making sure that Rollason was not going to leave and tell the rest of the world what he had seen. The Lama seems to have a tremendous insight as to the thoughts and intentions of others, so he is merely "testing" Rollason, to make sure the creatures existance will remain undisclosed. His statement at the end of, "There is no Yeti." is simply an affirmation of this unspoken "agreement" between himself and Rollason.
Yes. This is one of those movies that tome is much much better then the critics give it credit for. Great from start to finish!
shareI'm afraid I see things in a slightly more sinister light. I did get the feeling that Rollason had been hypnotised by the Yeti and was also under the Lama's control - hence the intense stare and the commanding tone; "There IS no Yeti!" The idea that Rollason is purely acting out of altruism is belied by his own trance-like speech and manner. Moreover, all of the party are under the influence of the Yeti to some extent. In the face of the avalanche, Friend has plenty of time to run away and Rollason calls to him several times as he runs for shelter but Friend stands, helpless, with the same blank stare as we see on Rollason's face. We see the eyes of the Yeti in close up; intense and hypnotic. Friend seems to see something high above him and stares at it and we see his face go blank. This sets it up for Rollason to also black out. As we look at the Yeti's eyes we see the picture go out of focus. The next time we see Rollason he is unconscious in the blizzard. These creatures know human beings are weaker than they but they are not infinitely compassionate towards us - why should they be? They simply want to get rid of the threat that the expedition poses but they decide to risk letting Rollason go, relying on a hypnotic suggestion to deny their existence and help keep the bothersome humans away! It's not Rollason's compassion for the Yeti that saves them; they see a use for him and it's his gentle, passifist nature that saves his life! Had he shown any gung ho tendencies towards them they would have killed him too. All of this is consistent with the telepathic powers that the Yeti have exhibited, their ability to control human thoughts at a distance and their willingness to kill unarmed human beings.
The theme of humanity's dominant position facing a threat from another species is one that Nigel Kneale has tackled many times as for example in his Quatermass stories. The Abominable Snowman is an interesting variant in that we feel sympathy for the competing species. This is consistent with Kneale's philosphy. What we interpret as 'evil' is simply a territorial issue. The aliens in Quatermass and the Pit were not evil - even though they looked and acted like the horned devil! The Yeti were more obviously not evil but if they existed they certainly would be viewed as a threat to us all.
No, there is no question in my mind. Much as I do like the idea that good old John Rollason wants to stop the nasty humans from wiping out the Yeti I think that, for all his dislike of the hunters' guns and traps, it really comes down to two species competing for dominance. We may sympathise with the Yeti but we should not sentimentalise them. One day, the Yeti will inherit the earth. It is not in their interests to protect any human beings, only to keep out of their way. It is likewise not in the interests of human beings to to protect a species that one day will replace us.
I think the Yeti altered Rollanson's mind and memories. They planted the idea that everyone else died in "accidents".
The Yeti are peaceful creatures. Even after one of their own is killed they took no revenge, directly. They did all they could to hinder and persuade the party to turn back.
They created the illusion in Rollanson's mind that a message on the radio was warning them to return to the monastary, even abandoning their equipment.
When that failed they finally were left with no choice and made Friend hallucinate that he was hearing Edward calling him for help.
They could not have known Friend would cause an avalanche with his gun shots.
When they faced Rollanson, they didn't hurt him. They erased his memories and most likely planted new ones, erasing any memories of themselves. Then I believe they brought him as close to the mountain hut as they could, alerted his wife, and in this way saved the last of the expedition, and the only one who had a basic theory and understanding of who the Yeti really were, but made to believe they didn't exist. They could have killed him, or left him to die in the cave. Instead they helped him and thereby helped to assure a curious outside world, the Yeti do not exist.
Also, they didn't hurt Kusang when they had the chance, but rather let him escape down the mountain.
The Yeti were more advanced and "humane" than the creatures looking for them.
"Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."
-Dennis
I don't beleive the "Yeti" needed to do any mind altering. They had the ability to see Rollanson for what he truly was...a reasonable and decent man. Either way... it's refreshing to see a difference of opinions discussed and debated so civily. This is a movie for the thinking person, and that's what it seems to have drawn to this thread. Thanks for all the insights.
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This is a great thread about a great movie.
My view is that the Yeti are able to affect everybody within their sphere of influence. The High Lama (and those before him) is at the very least collaborating with the Yeti, if not under their mental domination. Remember when Rollason's wife found the Lama in a deep trance? I believe he was in communication with the Yeti at that point. "They are in danger from their own actions," he tells her. He knew exactly what was happening with the expedition. Which leads me to an interesting thought. The monks, those who live closest to the Yeti, have a peaceful "live and let live" philosophy where they live in harmony with their environment and do not interfere with others. Could this philosophy be a direct result of Yeti influence?
The question of whether Rollason's mind is intact at the end is an interesting one. I always thought the Yeti erased his memory and placed their own story there as part of their "disinformation" campaign. The blank look on his face when he says "What I'm looking for doesn't exist" suggests that to me. But I do accept the possibility that he is concealing the Yeti's existence out of his own free will...I don't think that is the most LIKELY possibility. Remember Kusang saying "I have seen what must not be seen"? He knows what happens to those who see a Yeti. He returns in hysteria to the temple and then "disappears"...likely to be brainwashed somehow. Or worse, depending on your view of the Yeti.
I don't think the Yeti need to engage in violence with their mental powers. They rely on their own patience and mankind's self-destructive nature to take care of things all in good time. With plenty of "Tom Friends" running the world today, they are probably closer than ever to their goal.
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I saw this firm today for the first time since I was a kid in the 1960s, and the ending hook, about the Yeti not existing, called back long-ago memories. Even as a kid I was impressed at that plot twist. It made a pretty good ending for a better-than-average example of the genre, which usually ended with the giant apes and ants, grasshoppers, tarantulas, or neo-dinosaurs (take your pick) being blasted off the face of the earth by the U.S. Army.
Just yesterday I heard a report that 1,000 of the rapidly diminishing number of African rhinos were killed last year so that wealthy Chinese men can have an aphrodisiac. The planet is losing species every day.
Maybe this was a message movie, and no one got the message.