MovieChat Forums > Opal Dream (2006) Discussion > What do you rekon happened in the end?

What do you rekon happened in the end?

posted 17 years ago by original_blonde88
25 replies | jump to latest

Do you think the girl lived in the end? damn it im not that smart lol they have to tell me these things

[–] one8teen 17 years ago

KellyAnne died in the book. I don't think she died in the movie.

[–] original_blonde88 17 years ago

Oh boourns!!! maybe i'll have to read the book now

Don't read it.. it's a waste of time... it's realy boring... more boring than Dust... and Dust is hard to top in boredomness...

[–] original_blonde88 17 years ago

hey im procrastinating from the hsc ill read anything. whats the book called?

[–] critterdhs05 15 years ago

she dies in the movie not the tv one but the movie on dvd. it fades away.

sad.

[–] dunbar7 12 years ago

There are indications that she is sick from the very first frame of the film. She is pale, unresponsive, practically catatonic. She is, like most children her age, highly egocentric. The fever, chills, vomiting and other symptoms were not, I think, psychosomatic. She was sick at the party, not because she missed her imaginary friends, but because she was genuinely ill. I saw the version where the white light shone upon her after her final line, and I took as she died. There was no other explanation needed.

"She's, like, a biscuit older than me..."

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] CJClark1064 17 years ago

I am the editor this film. Originally in this film the girl died. The director said: 'The only reason I wanted to direct this film was to have the girl die.' We all thought this would be a more powerful ending.
But, of course, the financiers thought it would have more commercial success if the girl lived, so the film was recut. This is a typical example of commercialism over artistic ambition.... and the film did nothing at the box office.

[–] 2littletime 17 years ago

I really enjoyed the film. Particularly enjoyed the direction (editing??? ;-) of the family at the Christmas table then cut to the picture of their dingy little shack. They had nothing, but they had 'everything'.

I enjoyed the hints of Pobby and Dingam maybe being real - the poster about asteroids, the story of the wooden leg because of lightning then later the lightning scene. The lolly wrappers in the mine (the dad ate them?). But at the same time the reality of life in a small, desperate town.

I do not feel it is necessary to kill off the girl to make the film interesting. However, I also do not feel that it is necessary to protect the audience by always having a rosy ending. I would have appreciated a hint as to what was wrong with Kelly though. It is obvious her illness is not psychological at the end.

What kills her in the book?

[–] prinnymoo 16 years ago

I think Kellyanne died in the book.. and film.. (doesnt a fade to white wihte a still of the face mean death?)
it is a shame the film did not do well at the box office. a plethora of great Aussie actors and 2 children who could go so much further.
The editing was ver4y rough in the movie.. a real shame

[–] FearTheNumbers 16 years ago

I just finished watching the film on TV and she did die.
There was no mention of Chritmas, she died right after the funeral.
And there was about five minutes of her brother talking about how he missed her and how it felt like she was still with him.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] noni4eva7 16 years ago

Me too! Tears virtually still in my eyes over her dying and the very sad but rather elongated and overly-sentimental speech from Ashmol about her death, her being buried in the same grave as Pobby and Dingan with lots of lollipops... A speech which also contained a *meaningful* but quite subtle remark about how he finds himself talking to her even though she's not there...

I think overall this film is really a very interesting ponderance on the meaning of attachment and loss. The power/effect that attachment and the fear of loss, then ultimately the loss itself, has over people, alongside the less subtle idea of "pursuing your goal" - the literal/metaphorical opals.

Generally, I really enjoyed this film and don't agree that it is just a portrayal of a manipulative/psychologically unstable girl.

What was the alternative ending seen in cinemas?

[–] LydiaMay 16 years ago

Yeah, that's the version I have literally just seen on the telly. After the funeral the lad says 'and Kelly-Ann was happy and smiling for the rest of her life, which wasn't very long so it happens.' I was fairly shocked to say the least! Very blunt, but I think that because of its alacrity it will leave a lasting impression. I enjoyed the film, the lad was the best brother ever!

[–] eglaisher 16 years ago

I'm puzzled... saw this film on TV last night (UK, probably on BBC) and she definitely died. She was buried between Pobby and Dingan. Must have been the original cut. I'm glad I saw that one. It was a bit abrupt though. After the funeral of the imaginary friends, Ashmol said (in a voicover) words to the effect 'Kellyanne smiled for the rest of her life ... which wasn't very long'.

It was a touch of realism that her obviously serious illness was not caused by distress over the loss of the friends. I guess it was leukaemia or something?

I don't feel lucky to be alive! I feel lucky I'm not dead. There's a difference.

(Edited: Sorry, I posted before I read page 2, I'm not the only person to have seen this version!)

[–] annabithiah 16 years ago

I watched this film about 5 mins ago on BBC 2, and the girl dies in the end and is buried next to her friends.

I think this ending was very good.

So what happened? How come I just saw her die?

[–] spersephone 16 years ago

The book is called Pobby & Dingan - one of the earlier messages asked for the title. In the book she did die, and I am fairly certain the version of the movie I saw at the drive in (at Coober Pedy) did not clarify whether she lived or died.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] miss_madison 16 years ago

Hi there CJ,

You will be pleased to know that the version recently shown (last week) on the BBC in the UK featured the original cut you talk about: Kellyanne's death is not shown, but after Pobby and Dingan's 'funeral' there is a voiceover from her brother to the effect of "Kellyanne didn't last much longer either". I can't remeber the EXACT wording, but however it was worded, it made me cry! A lovely film which I am diappointed to see is not out on DVD in the UK yet.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] angelroom 16 years ago

just watched last night.. they did a fade to white on her face.. the rest was and then the brother on the bike with end monologue. no mention of death. it was in the family section of the rental store.. wonder if they had a choice on the ending.

[–] ms_sunshine 15 years ago

I just watched it on DVD and was wondering the same thing. This version showed a bright light on her face as she said, "You're the best brother." The next scene was her brother riding on his bike thru the mine field....nothing about her dying or a funeral.

*~* *~*

[–] lizzy_vampire 15 years ago

i got the same as you, no death

i think they must have had an optional thing

its like in another movie i saw

at the cinema he doens't die, but we see part of a funeral at the end

out of the cinema you see the funeral and its for him

Rory:You OK over there? Do you need a glass of water or... a time machine?

I LOVE SPIKE

[–] lizzy_vampire 15 years ago

[–] nrangerseven 9 years ago

Yeah no fair. I just watched this on Netflix before they remove it from their lineup. No death. Not that I want to say I want a kid to die, but she obviously was very ill and I think it would have been fitting for her to die and have her buried with her friends. They died when she did.

The people you idolize wouldn't like you.