MovieChat Forums > La tortue rouge (2017) Discussion > What is up with the son?

What is up with the son?

posted 7 years ago by maureengood
7 replies | jump to latest

Some burning questions I had at the end of the movie:

1. Why does the son leave them? He loves them so why would he go away?

2. Why doesnt he take them both with him?

3. Is he a turtle? Is he ready to live as a turtle again? Then why does he bring possesions and why does he swim away in human form?

4. Is he perhaps going back to civilization? (then I also refer to question 2 again). How would he do that? Will the turtles take him all the way, because he is half turtle? How would he know where to go?

[–] thehax-98787 7 years ago

1. I think the film is portraying about a child's independence from his parents once he matures. It's natural to find your own way at this stage of life. I don't think it has anything to do with his love for his parents. It's just the natural thing to do.

2. My answer to this would be in my #1 answer as well. He's finding his own way as he moves on to the next stage of life.

3. I don't think he's a turtle at all but I could be wrong. As you've mentioned, he brought possessions with him as he swam away as a human.

4. Since I think he's really a human and wouldn't turn into a turtle, it would make sense for me that he's heading for civilization. If I remember correctly, he had the idea to leave when he was looking at the glass bottle that somehow represents civilization in a way. The turtles would probably take him all the way.

[–] ackmondual 7 years ago

These would've been my responses as well.

As for #4, I figured the son would want to find a mate for himself, but unless another turtle came unto the island, turned into a lady, and shed her shell in the same fashion as her mother, his only option would've been to live out a peaceful life alone, as he was bound to outlive his parents.

Also, just to see what else is out there if nothing else.

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[–] ElDee3 7 years ago

I'm pretty sure there was no family

[–] donpadilla 7 years ago

I was kind of thinking this as well.

He was hallucinating the whole thing?

[–] bastille-852-731547 7 years ago

1 and 2. He is ready to be independent from his parents. This was one of the major themes of the final two scenes in the film.

3. I'm pretty sure he is not.

4. It is possible.

[–] evil_ice_dragon 7 years ago

1. I think he leaves them because once he discovers the glass bottle again, it reminds him of the horizon -- and what is beyond. He's been living his entire life on the island with his parents but he knows there is life out there (his father drew pictures in the sand of animals and such when he was a child). He still loves his parents, but going out into the world and making his own life is something he needed to do.

2. I didn't get the sense they wanted to leave. They understood that it was his decision and that it was something he needed to do for himself.

3. I thought he was a half turtle. I don't think he'll be living as an actual turtle. It's just easier to swim with his turtle guides.

4. Yes, I got the sense he's heading to civilization, or at the very least, to see what the rest of the world looks like. As with anyone leaving the nest, he may not know exactly where to go or what to do, but uncertainty is a part of life.

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[–] nyjack 7 years ago

This being a fairy tale I assumed the woman could not leave the island and remain a woman. Otherwise she could have summoned her turtle buddies and have swum to civilization, just like the son did, and also why the son did not send help back to the island.