Meaning of fish?
How do you interpret the final scene as the goldfish swarm around and nibble at the boy's feet?
shareGod, this film tore my heart out.
I have no idea what the meaning of the goldfish was. All I know is that while I was watching that scene I was struck by the tenderness of the oblivious, gentle goldfish nibbling at Ali's tortured feet while he suffered what he thought was defeat.
My only thought was, We are all so stupid! We have no idea what the real goal is. We have no idea how hard we work and how much we all suffer to achieve things that have nothing to do with what we really want, what will grant us real peace.
Those goldfish may be that still, small voice in each of us that we so often ignore to our own peril. Poor Ali, possessor of such tremendous talent and compassion, so focused on those damn shoes that he doesn't take the time to think through to an awareness that with what he has won he can buy a hundred pairs of new sneakers. His poor father, so scared of strangers and landlords that he has no idea what a huge work ethic and what strong values he possesses and how rare this is. If he were aware of his value he would not be poor.
This film spoke to me about my own botched attempts at what I thought was success, my own dim awareness of my own worth. Thank you to all who made it possible.
In Iranian culture, goldfish symbolize rebirth. Many people buy goldfish to celebrate the New Year. I think the final scene shows that although Ali does not realize it yet, he will achieve success in the end. Unfortunately, the American version doesn't translate the epilogue, which makes this meaning clear: the epilogue states that Ali grows up to have a racing career.
shareThank you intriguement for translating the epilogue. It's so nice to feel that the movie ended with such a positive note.
share
Thank you, Intriguement. It's a very valuable insight.
Until now, I "only" saw it as a very poetic, truly artistic scene.
Now I like it even better. ;)