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SPOILER: Why that moment to regain memories?

posted 10 years ago by rorydaulton
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Henri, the brain controlling the ship Pythagorus, tries to regain his memories in a variety of ways but fails. Finally, just as a nearby star goes supernova, he remembers his old life, particularly a scene at the beach with his wife and child.

This seems like a terrible coincidence. Is there some in-movie connection between the supernova and the memories coming back? The only thing I can guess at is the brightness of the supernova being similar to the sunshine at the beach. But this seems contrived, since the ship was not all that dark and we saw several devices that gave out intense light. Perhaps all those bright lights came before Henri got his robot body, and by coincidence none of those lights happened after. Even so, Henri had an eye before he got his body and would have seen those lights.

This seeming out-of-the-blue coincidence lowered by enjoyment of the film. Does anyone have an explanation?

[–] tAnderson-81-542171 10 years ago

I think you answered your own question. I saw it as the extraordinarily bright light from the supernova was reminiscent of the sunshine on the beach. Enough to jog his memory. Nothing in the ship was ever as bright as a star. Didn't bother me at all. Thought it worked well.

Anyone else see this because of Slashdot? That's how I found out about it.

[–] fist_o_cheese 9 years ago

You're being too "hard science" about it. Yes, HENRi is science fiction, but it's also a very spiritual film -- a beautiful melding of both, much like 2001 (and perhaps even more in 2010).

I prefer to look at it in another, more existential, way than simply light triggering something hardwired into him. I think HENRi saw in the supernova his own impending death at long last, and while preparing for this, he was granted a final moment of realization so that he could die fulfilled, as a human being at peace with himself and his place in the universe.

I was incredibly moved by the whole film and the final scene was as heartbreaking as it was uplifting. Absolutely beautiful.