This is a beautiful movie, regardless of how it ends.. but how does it actually end? With Robbie dying or not? I thought he drowned, but wife thinks he survived to be a father to his son.
shareThe shot at the end of the grown up Elliott shows him spending time with the 'older Robbie' (who is also credited). So, he doesn't jump.
shareI guessing he survived but I think he just saying that he doesnt just have him to look out for now but also he needs to over look and be a father to his son.
but overall i love the film and kyle did great... best newcomer or young british actor 2010 atm one thinks...
Adam XD
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The way I perceived the ending was the he did die. When he was talking about drowning and seeing his son, I took that as his final thoughts (him with his son in a happy future) just at the moment he drowned.
The whole "drowning" bit didn't quite add up though, as from that height, the impact would have killed him long before any water could enter his lungs.
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He clearly died. If you listen to his narration, he states that what he sees as he dies, is not his own life flash before his eyes, but that of his son. He is imagining the life his son will have.
shareI think that lingering question is an additional gift of the director and writer.
Did he jump or didn't he. The boy was given to introspective and existential day dreaming of the future, but how could he have lived with himself if he was put in a borstal and never ever able to see his son again? Surely, no up to then irresponsible grandfather of the baby with no adoptive rights would actually be a part of the baby's future, no matter how irresponsible the adoptive father and real mother were.
This film drives some picky film reviewers batty with undeserved criticism as trying to be new wave British cinema commenting on he failed mores of the times but somehow failing. To me it was a solid success.
As every perceptive person who has observed, the film itself touches the viewer with comedy, coming of age generational angst and fear, Its ending stays with you for some time. And that my friend is what good British cinema is designed to do.
I also thought he drowned and because of that I thought it was an absurd ending. The shooting was accidental and the abduction reactive, he looked after the child well and I think he would have gotten a few months in some institution, but he would have moved on and been able to see the son he obviously cared for.
But it wasn't until I saw the comment above about 'Older Robbie' being credited that I realised he didn't die, so that's good!
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Thanks for clearing this up. I bought it on DVD last week and thought it was a beautiful movie, a real treat. The young actor was brilliant. Also good to see Crissy Rock as the chip shop woman. A great British movie.
shareI took it to mean more like drowning under the weight of what he had done and the conciquences of his actions, his sons life flashng before his eyes made him do the right thing and hand him back to him mom/not jump.
xXx Over-Dramatic People Ruin My Life xXx
Thats what i'm wondering, why should he have killed himself just because he didn't get to keep his kid. Sure he might do a few months in a young offenders but eventually he'd be able to get his life back together and fight for joint custody of his kid. No reason for him to choose suicide.
Ashmi any question
I'm not sure how it ends.
The scene in the trailer with a pillow may be relevant. For a few moments I thought maybe the boy suffocated the baby. Glad it turned out otherwise, but I was left wondering what was what in this unclear moment. Suffocation by pillow was suggested but not actual in the movie.
Was drowning at the bottom of the cliff a similar suggestion, but not actual? I think people can see life flash before their eyes when they think they are about to die, even if they don't.
I wonder if the ending can be interpreted in more than one way or if I should go ahead and accept that the boy jumped.