MovieChat Forums > Shadows and Fog (1992) Discussion > Liked It Up Until The Ending

Liked It Up Until The Ending

posted 16 years ago by JasonLeeSmith
14 replies | jump to latest

I really enjoyed this movie right up until the ending which I found to be very contrived, and seemed to be put in just to give the film a "happy" ending. In this way, I found it strangely reminiscent to a scene in "Stardust Memories" in which the movie studio imposed a nonsensical ending onto one of the protagonist's films in order to make it less depressing.

Perhaps I have been influenced by "Stardust Memories" but does anyone know if the ending to "Shadows and Fog" was changed at the last minute?

[–] rtcnz 16 years ago

Woody Allen is a real genre-freak, he loves playing around with genres. I believe he meant for the ending to feel unsatisfactory and contrived. Joins the circus, pushes off, doesn't have to look for a killer anymore. He's happy but the escape-artist killer will keep on killing. We go away feeling uneasy, it fits in with the overall feel of the film (which is one of my favourite Woody films)

[–] skoidat 16 years ago

Just watched the movie again since awhile ago. I totally agree with you, the ending is jarringly "happy". Thinking about the last couple lines of the movie ("People need my illusions" etc.) it hit me that the whole movie took on an illusory quality with the stark contrast of the ending. Especially considering Klienmanns life changing decision to 'run away with the circus', his old life and that towns problems would probably seem like an illusion soon after he disembarked.

So... who knows, maybe this is a more existential movie than anyone would have guessed.

[–] dwarol 15 years ago

Maybe I missed something, but this movie strikes me as a mess. The actions at the various locales just don't fit together well. Characters move in and out of this movie and never come into focus nor have any reason for being introduced. Many characters (such as Madonna's) seemed to exist just as an excuse to trot a famous person onto the screen. Even Allen's character by the end of the movie was a total blob. The whole just never hangs together. Maybe as the play it was based on (which is naturally broken up into scenes and acts with brief interludes) it would have worked better.

Perhaps this movie was indeed meant as an homage to Kafka. Certainly the setting is jarring and indeterminate (e.g., radios and electric lights, but no cars), which I liked. But Kafka does a much better job of evoking surrealism than this movie does for me.

[–] rtcnz 15 years ago

The trapeze artist character wasn't written "as an excuse" to get Madonna on the screen. She came to Woody begging for a role in this film, as did Jodie Foster, and many others who appear. Woody said, "Sorry - all I've got are these minor parts", but the actresses went for them regardless.

[–] timmy_501 15 years ago

Maybe the magician failed to stop the killer and he killed Kleinman. The rest of the film is the afterlife; Kleinman finds happiness there. This would explain why the killer disappeared, how the magic worked, and the illusion line.

Recently Viewed
Shadows and Fog 9/10

This story is already over

[–] Gloede_The_Saint 15 years ago

Happy ending?????

SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The killer gets away! Which I'm really glad happened by the way.

Somebody here has been drinking and I'm sad to say it ain't me - Allan Francis Doyle

[–] Iridescent_Phantom 15 years ago

I've always suspected Allen was disappointed in this film long before he finished it. Can't say why, and Allen hasn't talked about it...yet. This is Allen's shortest movie at around 90m and looks like he abruptly decided to end it and get the whole thing out of his life.

I played a minor part in the police station sequence in which Mia Farrow is dragged in screaming. The scene in the final cut is only a portion of what was filmed, including a moment when the killer is actually brought into the room and then escorted out by two policemen. It is totally missing from the released version which leads me to suspect Allen had planned a somewhat different movie and it didn't come together.

Of course, this is just speculation on my part and I could be wrong. But it does suggest a reason why the picture does not seem to come together in a cohesive narrative.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] killdawabbittn 13 years ago

I don't think the ending was bad at all. If anything it was Hollywood all the way. And the joke's on us.
Woody's character did what he always wanted to do. If anything it was too Hollywood an ending.
This movie was what it was and was brilliant.
Woody Allen gets away with everything!