MovieChat Forums > The Brothers Bloom (2009) Discussion > The Film is an Inward Con (Spoilers)

The Film is an Inward Con (Spoilers)


I know I am 5 years late to this conversation but after reading through this forum I found no one mentioned the possibility of a different interoperation to the reality of the film itself. Now I know that what I am about to suggest will cause eyes to roll but hang on for a brief moment for me to explain myself.

I believe that Stephen and Bang Bang don't really exist.

Bloom, a character who we only know by his last name unlike his brother, was an orphan that we learn was sexually molested by one of his caretakers. I believe he conjures up Stephen to deal with the series of unfortunate events he calls his childhood. After spending his life walking around aimlessly being a confidence man he one day decides he can't do it anymore, thus begins the journey to expel his protecter, Stephen. Bang Bang herself one day just appears in there life, when they needed her and just as easily vanishes when she has served her purpose.

I like to think of Bloom, Stephen and Bang Bang as Ego, Super Ego and Id.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/IdSuperegoAndEgo

Stephen protects Bloom and gives him purpose, Bang Bang blows stuff up. But neither have a purpose besides serving Bloom. Nether express an interest in what they want out of life, nor have a sex drive, unlike Bloom and Penelope.

Penelope. There is a reason why meeting Penelope is significant to Bloom besides love: Penelope is burdened the same way Bloom is. While having diner Penelope and Bloom have an interesting conversation about her childhood.

Penelope to Bloom: "This was a story about a girl who could find infinite beauty in anything, any little thing, and even love the person she was trapped with. And I told myself this story until it became true. Now, did doing this help me escape a wasted life? Or did it blind me so I didn't want to escape it? I don't know, but either way I was the one telling my own story..."

While she delivers this dialogue to Bloom we only see Penelope through a MIRROR. I believe the mirror is showing us that this is in fact about Bloom. -"And I told myself this story until it became true. Or did it blind me so I didn't want to escape it? I don't know, but either way I was the one telling my own story." Bloom is in fact the one making up the stories not Stephen. Stephen doesn't exist.

A lot of people here have make the argument that Bloom wants to live an "Unwritten life" but that isn't true, at least not in the final moments of the film. Penelope and Bloom both leave behind their baggage. Penelope does so by blowing up her childhood home (this isn't literal, this is symbolic) and Bloom does so by leaving Stephen. In leaving behind their baggage they decide to WRITE a new life together.

Penelope Stamp: "He said to me, there's no such thing as an unwritten life. Just a badly written one."
Bloom: "Oh God."
Penelope Stamp: "I love you Bloom. You know what we're gonna do? We're gonna live. Like we're telling the best story in the whole world."

In fact, as a mirroring image to the introduction, Stephen goes to die in the cave now being represented by a theatre. The theatre itself is symbolic as this moment is not real, its a stage to play out the final act of Blooms childhood story, the story of his imaginary brother and protector Stephen. Stephen whose only purpose in life is to create stories for Bloom to live out.

Just like the light in the cave Bloom sees Stephen as real because he has fallen for the con, the light in the dark cave of his life is Stephen whom leads him through the dark. Bloom has chased that light in cave until the moment the blood on his body turns brown, shortly after being tricked into leaving the theatre.

The childhood story of the Bloom brothers also brings up some interesting dialogue.

Young Stephen: "Bloom, we've hit a one hat town."
Narrator: One theater. One car wash. One café. One park. One cat. Which, through some mishap, had one leg.

The relentless focus on the concept of "One" may be in reference to the fact that there is only one Bloom brother.

Bloom: "Trying to get something real by telling yourself stories is a trap."
Diamond Dog: "Our hero must face the Minotaur before he escapes the maze."

The definition of Minotaur: a creature who was half man and half bull. Confined in Crete in a labyrinth made by Daedalus and fed on human flesh, it was eventually slain by Theseus.

Before Bloom can escape his maze he had to let go of the life he created. Bloom, whom is shown to be sexually repressed (from being molested) struggles to be intimate with Penelope, this is shown on the train when she expresses herself sexually as he runs away.

Stephen resigns when Bloom is ready to love.

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Thank you very much, that's a terrific, sensible and well based hypothesis concerning the magnificent and layered thematic level of this incredible film...

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Wow, wow is the word I'm looking for.

How incredibly insightful and intelligently well thought out. I would have never, never thought of the film that way.

Thank you for sharing that!

Bam, said the lady.

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Interesting theory, but that spoils the ending for me. I still like to believe that Steven pulled the ultimate con, fooling even Bloom (until Bloom sees the blood on his shirt darken).

Be sure to proof your posts to see if you any words out

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This is great, it really rings true!

Things you brought to my attention: I never realised before the significance of Stephen (most-likely) dying in a theatre! Also, Penelope discussing her childhood while being mirrored! It makes so much sense. :)

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Love this theory. The title makes sense now.

I understand. Thank you for telling me. -The masked bandit

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Well thought out idea, but the beauty of Rian Johnson's writing and directing is that he left it ambiguous enough that he's free to say:
"Yes! You're right, it's about dealing with reality through fantasy."
or
"No! It's about the ultimate con(men)"
...and either way, he'll be right.

Personally, I prefer taking things at face value, but it's fun to think about "thematic arcs and hidden symbolism and..." (in the words of Bloom)

Otterprods, to keep those aquatic Mustelidae in line.

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Nice analysis.
I thought of the parallels between the con game and theater which also culminates in an ending in the theater, and the cave being Plato's cave. Plato's theory about reality is that we are just living in a cave and the fire throws shadows on the wall which is what we experience, not the true reality.

One question though in your post is about the molestation. Where in the movie did they mention or infer this? Did I miss something?

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It's when Bloom is sketching in the hotel bar and Diamond Dog comes up to him and reminisces on his tutelage of the brothers when they were younger. He says, "I remember all the other boys, when I went for the belt, they would run, they would fight. But not you. You were so passive, paralyzed. This is a warning, Bloom, and an offer. When he is gone...remember me." Bloom's grip on his pencil tightens, and as Diamond Dog says this he squeezes Bloom's thigh in a manner, which could connote he molested him as a youngster.

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Excellent! Really deep and well thought out analysis!

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