I saw this movie for the first time last night. I was disappointed in the ending. At first glance Mortiz's character was despicable. He become nothing more then a common thief. I sprang to the imbd message boards looking for answers and opinion on the movies ending. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of controversy this ending was stirred.
So on the boards I had adopted by second interpretation. OH yes, Mortiz returned the real "red violin". I was pretty content with this interpretation because is exonerated Mortiz's character as an honest man. But I kept reading and soon I began to see the cracks in that ending as well. Everybody at the auction just wanted it for the wrong reasons. The monks for historical value or perhaps they thought it was theirs to begin with due to the graver robbing, the pope foundation for obvious reasons, the old musician since he was a collector, and Ming probably because in communist China the idea of personal property was seen as a violation of the state and with the traumatic event in his childhood created a powerful symbolic meaning with the violin. But these reasons had very little to do with the intended purpose of the violin to create music. Something wasn't right...
I reached the third and final interpretation of the film's ending. He took the real violin. But not for his petty self interest but for something greater. He knew the significance of the the violin and I believe there is one scene which pretty much sums up the whole controversy. When the red violin is hooked up to the acoustic measuring machine. Mortiz thinks out loud for that moment asking a rhetorical question.
"What do you do with the thing you want most just comes" this importance of this line has been discussed ad nauseam. So I will not bother But there are other lines which I think are even more important in hat scene. Mortiz then ask his friend if he has ever had children. His mousey-looking friend replies with a "No, no, I don't but I know what you mean, I would love to have this baby all to myself." Mortiz replies with a judicious "really?". The friend goes on to explain how he would take it apart and measure the acoustic properties of this instrument. Mortiz replies with a "I don't think you get it." The friend says I do, and shows Mortiz the amazing acoustic properties of the Violin, but Mortiz tells to him to stop for he feels as though the Violin is in some pain do the resonant vibrations. (It cuts to a shot of Anna in pain.) Implying some connection between them.
To me this scene ends the whole controversy. Not even his good friend understands the true value of the violin. It is meant to be played for its music, to create beauty in this world. He realizes that everybody in the auction wants it for some selfish reasons. Mortiz is connected to the violin a strange way, he can feel when it is in pain. He realizes what he must do. So in the end he steals it. So that it can be given to a child, who will love for its music not for its craftsmanship, or its historic virtuoso violin player.
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msmith40
16 years ago
******Possible Spoilers****
After the press release is made of the discovery of the red violin, we see Mr. Ruselsky make his way to the violin as it is displayed with the rest of the items to be auctioned. The camera view is from behind the violin as we see Mr. Ruselsky approach the violin. He studies it briefly, and then he turns and leaves. The camera then sharpens/focuses on the back of the violin where the auction tag is hanging, and it clearly shows the heel of the violin neck. We know this should be the area of bullet damage based upon the scene when the violin enters the Chinese pawnbroker's shop. He positions his magnifying glass over the heel of the neck and we see the bullet damage. Yet in the Ruselsky scene there is no evidence of any bullet damage, or the subsequent repair. This makes it somewhat apparent that Morritz (Samuel L. Jackson) already has the red violin in his possession and the violin on display was the copy commissioned by Pope. So Morritz actually returns the real red violin back to the auction in the end. This makes sense, based upon his reaction to hearing Ruselsky playing it earlier. (I thought Samuel did a fine job with that scene. He seemed deeply moved upon hearing the long-lost red violin for the first time.) I think he realized that a musician should play such an instrument. We have no idea as to the age of his (Morritz) daughter (to my knowledge), nor do we know if she even plays the violin. In the end she’s getting an almost identical copy of a very famous musical instrument, and a well-known concert violinist - a musician - will play the real red violin.
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svanatter
16 years ago
Agreed. (At least this is VERY plausible.)
You write, "So Morritz actually returns the real red violin back to the auction in the end. This makes sense, based upon his reaction to hearing Ruselsky playing it earlier. . . . I think he realized that a musician should play such an instrument."
To those who are tied to the "I Must Possess This" line-of-reasoning, what about this (somewhat hidden) point?
Scott V.
P.S. The director ALSO said in an interview that the arch of the life of the violin ends up BACK where it stareted, in the hands of a master. (IOW, Ruselsky.)
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brittjustice
15 years ago
Nice thoughts from Nearhan.
Since there is debate regarding whether Morritz/SLJ took the replica or the real violin. I think Cesca's tarot cards clearly show that Morritz took the real violin.
Remember that Cesca's tarot cards foretold Anna's [the violin's] journey with complete accuracy. By the time the Red Violin reached Morritz' hands, Cesca's prediction was that the violin would experience REBIRTH.
1. Long Life (actually a prediction of the violin's life, not Anna's)
2. Disease/Suffering (Kaspar Weiss)
3. Seduction 'the devil' (Frederick Pope)
4. Trial/prosecution (Red China)
5. Rebirth (inverted Death card) - Morritz
The story demonstrates that no other potential owners were worthy of the violin. Just look at two of the guys on the shortlist: Williams, the restorer, appreciated the violin but said if he owned it he would dismantle and study it. Ruselsky (the older violinist at the auction) tries it out but even though he's played a lifetime, he has a tin ear for the perfection of the Red Violin.
Rebirth could not happen in the hands of Ruselsky or any of the other auction bidders.
Here's a crude analogy: The Red Violin is like a glass slipper to Cinderella/Anna's spirit. Various suitors such as poseur-virtuoso Ruselsky can't mash their toes in, as their intentions are impure. Only Jackson is able to slide on Anna's Red Violin, because he is uniquely capable of appreciating and loving it for its true essence. Well, you get my drift.
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