MovieChat Forums > Baby It's You (1983) Discussion > Ending: what does it mean?

Ending: what does it mean?

posted 13 years ago by TobyWayne
9 replies | jump to latest

***spoilers***

So the dance at the end: is it like a last dance kinda thing where the characters will go their separate ways after the dance ends?

Or does it mean that they will reconcile with each other and find a way to make the relationship work?

Or does it mean that their relationship will continue but in a platonic way?

I'm guessing that it's some mix of all three but mostly that they won't be together in any way either as lovers or as close platonic friends any more.

What's interesting to me is that their fight causes Jill to finally be honest with herself about how disappointed and upset she is with her acting career and her overall college experience and how much she hates her new life as a relative nobody. She finally faces up to her own prospects. She realized earlier that Sheik's prospects as a lounge singer were pretty dim. But it's only when he shows up and *beep* up her room and yells at her that she understands that her life prospects, while better than his, are bleak too.

[–] unclejay73 13 years ago

I believe that what we witness in the final scene, is indeed the end of Jill and Sheik.

The scene before it indeed clarifies Jill finally becoming an adult and being truly honest with herself for the first time, not only being disappointed with her college experience and her acting abilities, but also with Sheik. She went to Miami to see him, and she sleeps with him, but she realizes after that it was a mistake...perhaps it was what she needed to do to truly know if she was in love with him or not.

She is not in love with him, though she cares for him. So in the end, after all these two characters went through, and the heated argument beforehand, its clear that they will never work, just as they never worked in the past. Both defeated, a calm truce needed to be had, and it came in the form of this college dance that was important to her. They dance, but never kiss. Jill and Sheik are over.

-UJ

http://www.swapadvd.com/index.php?n=1&r_by=JJC
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[–] TobyWayne 13 years ago

Agreed. I think the ending is also about Sheik coming to terms with his own dashed hopes and dreams. For the first time he admits that he doesn't know what he's going to do when Jill asks him what he wants to do next at the end of their fight. It's like he can no longer keep up the persona of the slick cocksure wiseass lounge singer. He finally admits that he doesn't know where he's going.

A lot of critics talk about this movie being all about how socioeconomic class divisions break up their romance. To me that's a very superficial and even kinda wrong analysis. It's more about two people becoming adults and finally learning to be honest with themselves about how they really feel about their experiences and each other. Jill doesn't dump Sheik because he's working-class. Jill dumps Sheik because she doesn't really get along with him and she never did and she doesn't want to become a housewife. Sheik accepts the breakup not because he's poor and working-class (altho he believes that initially) but because he understands that she was a 2-d fantasy figure to him and he was never interested in what she really wanted.

[–] MurderInc2014 11 years ago

No,no,no....right after that dance, they both ran away and got married, have four kids and live in the suburbs of Trenton F$ckin' New Jersey!!!! And that's final!

[–] reguest 11 years ago

really good interpretation that doesn't reduce the characters to their class, thanks for sharing

[–] MurderInc2014 11 years ago

You're welcome Jagoff!!!

[–] bonsai-superstar 11 years ago

It's no coincidence that the movie takes place in the early 60's to late 60's - the characters echo the rapid changes society was undergoing in that decade. The Sheik is the past (Sinatra, wearing suits, going to fancy restaurants, etc.) and Jill is more modern (independent, creative, smart, casual sex, etc.). Besides that, it could never work between them - yes, there was attraction, but they have ultimately too many differences. Beyond class & race (which were not treated as inconsequential at that time), their personalities are too far apart: he is aggressive ("kidnapping" her, committing robbery, trashing her room, etc.), and didn't truly understand / respect her dreams (he encourages her to skip school, almost causes her to lose the part in the play she was trying very hard to get, gets kicked out of school and thus cannot attend prom with her, etc.). She is also not blameless: she admits (to her friend) that she only gets back together with him (after the kidnapping) to make things easy for herself and her friend (not because she truly wants to) and, similarly, visits him in Miami only because things aren't going well for her at college and she wants to return to something she knows well, something from the past. He is a dreamer and - despite being a romantic - she is more practical. And so on.

HOWEVER, when the camera pulls away and the couple are dancing to •the band• playing "Strangers in the Night", just before the credits roll, the soundtrack switches to Sinatra's version *just at the moment when he sings*

Ever since that night we've been together
Lovers at first sight, in love forever
It turned out so right for strangers in the night

So, it seems like either Sayles is hinting that the couple did indeed stay together OR the Sinatra is a nod to the past: The Sheik, the night they danced to the song at the diner, the 40's/50's vs. the 60's/70's…
Only John Sayles knows for certain, I guess…

[–] asc85 10 years ago

The interpretation made by Bonsai-Superstar has always been my interpretation. When they change over to Sinatra singing "Strangers in the Night," where it says that "Ever since that night, we've been together, lovers at first sight, in love forever." that I interpret that they end up together. And if I remember correctly, they may not be kissing at the end, but they are gazing soulfully in each others eyes.

It's a great movie...one of my favorites from that year.

[–] MurderInc2014 9 years ago

They definitely end up together. No other way to look at it.

[–] Flora_Poste 9 years ago

The Sinatra lyrics are used ironically. In the end, Jill and Sheik know each other better, they understand each other better, but they are not going to BE together. They don't want the same things in life.