I saw this on IFC. Not the most amazing but interesting nonetheless. The failures of independent and creative directors like Wim Wenders are far more worthwhile watching than most of the crap made by committee in Hollywood.
But I couldn't hear the conversation between Izzy and Tom Tom in the last scene. What was Izzy saying and why did Tom let go?
>>>But I couldn't hear the conversation between Izzy and Tom Tom in the last scene
Ha, yeah... the first time I watched this, I found it terribly mumbly and inaudible. But as you also say, a Wim Wenders failure is still more interesting than a lot of other films we could mention.
Anyway, in the scene you asked about, we surmise that Izzy has been talking about jumping and Tom Tom has been trying to stop him, which is why he's holding onto him like that. However, Izzy deliberately hurts Tom as much as he can, by basically telling him that he raped Eloise - so that Tom Tom lets go of him. In other words it's a particularly cruel form of suicide, leaving Tom Tom with all the guilt!
And even more cruel because Izzy was his best friend.
Even when somebody fails to save a stranger, he usually feels guilty. And here not only it wasn't a stranger, not only Tom Tom helped Izzy die, but technically he killed him. Besides, it is not to neglect the fact that Tom Tom was a simple structured personality, moderate retarded, and he had problems to cope with smaller problems, so how could one expect him to successfully handle this situation?
If he were somehow mentally stronger he would probably realize that a person so cruel couldn't be considered a friend, let alone a best one. But torn between affection for Eloise and a guilt for getting Eloise only after (and probably because) he killed his friend, he couldn't stand the conscience conflict.
I think it kinda keeps it guilt free if Tom let's Izzy go justifiably.
I think that's why Izzy actually said that so Tom would let him go without reservations.