Did anybody watch until the end of the credits and hear the last little bit of dialog? If so, what do you think it meant? In addition, there was a hitchhiker near the end of the film with a sign that said "Léon," and I wondered about the significance of that. I echo others in stating that this was a very enjoyable movie.
shareAlas, I didn't stay for the credits, but as for the hitchhiker, I took it to mean that here is another person who could be made into a character or actually is a character in the mind of a novelist. The highway rest station is a fruitful place for the imagination. Why Lyon I'm not sure, except it probably means he's traveling south, just as the ghostwriter did. Maybe he's even a writer . . . I too enjoyed this film. Excellent characters, sly acting.
shareThanks, oneseat, for correcting my spelling of "Lyon"! :-) And thanks also for your interpretation. As for the bit of dialog at the end, the woman said to the man something along the lines of, "Hey, wait, where are we heading?" This was intended to plant seeds of doubt all over again, probably.
shareI took it to be obvious that Pierre and Huguette stayed together, and were driving around looking for a new character and a new plot, represented by the hitchhiker whom they may have picked up.
shareI agree that it's obvious they'll stay together, especially because of the Gilbert Bécaud song that keeps playing at various moments throughout the movie, "Crois-moi, ça durera" (Believe me, this is going to last). As far as the final bit of dialogue is concerned, the same songs plays over the end credits, this time in the English-language version, which is called "You'll See", and these are the words that follow immediately after she says the last line, "Where are we headed?" I think it's just meant to say, anything can happen, another chance encounter, or the plot for a new book... I'm not sure whether "eyes of a hawk" is supposed to refer to anything in particular. The words may have some other kind of significance in French (I didn't catch what he said at that moment) that they don't have in English. (Like the pun on wine, "Wine makes you whiny," in the scene on the boat before she pushes him into the water. Obviously, that's not a literal translation from the French either.)
I wanted to say the same things about the Bécaud songs, and I think you're spot-on with everything else you said here. (I know it's 2 years since your post, but I hope it's not too late for a toast!)
shareI was wondering if the hitch-hiker was the captain of the Ralitzer's boat? And could Hugoutte have been on the boat that picked Laclos up? That would explain the "eyes of a hawk" bit at the end. But I don't understand if two perfect crimes were committed?
shareIf it was the captain, he got very scruffy in a short period! I just interpreted the ending as Laclos and Huguette running off together, but perhaps there was more to it.
shareI thought it MIGHT have been the "doctor", her former lover whom Pinon took his role. But I might be wrong.
I never thought I'd be enthralled by a Lelouch movie. His movies usually leaves me cold, even the old Nouvelle Vague ones (as much as I like Truffaut) Now I stand duly corrected ! And in the "making of", the guy seems pretty jolly !
I thought the hitchhiker at the end was the original Paul/doctor/fiance..
as he no longer had a car and had been sent off on foot by Hughette (sp?), he needed a ride?
but maybe it wasnt.
.one. Princess Mononoke
.two. Amelie
.three. Pan's Labyrinth
.four. Neco z Alenky
I just assumed that it was following the book that Laclos wrote (God, The Other). When he first meets with Judith on the boat, she asks how it will end. He replies that it will be just like life...it will end, but you will still want to know what's going to happen next. And so the movie ends, and you still want to know what's going to happen next...
and yes, this movie was mind-blowingly wonderful. I honestly didn't expect to like it...I only watched it because I'm a big fan of Ardant. As usual, Mme Ardant did not fail to amaze, and the whole movie took me by surprise. Great piece of cinema.
Viva Hollywood!
Like you, I was attracted first by Fanny Ardant's name, not being too acquainted with Lelouch or any of the other actors. And ended up being overawed by a wonderful little cinematic journey!
But the point of the post is, I absolutely agree with your conclusion regarding the end - you completely nailed it there. Cheers!
Viva French Cinema!
I saw the credits but unfortunately the translator didnt stick around (lazy translators!) so I have no clue what they said.
share[deleted]