[About whether the brothers escaped the cycle in the end——Interpretation from the perspective of lines and performance]

Gabe 2022-11-10 05:13:38

I just watched it, and many film critics explained that the brothers did not escape the cycle in the end, and were still in reincarnation.

But I personally prefer that the brothers escaped the loop in the end, and the reason is precisely the part that many people think is strong evidence that the brothers failed to escape, which is the dialogue at the end of the film about the car running out of gas.

Let's take a look at the original text of the brothers' dialogue:

——We need gas.

——No, we're good.

-No, it's on empty.

-It's always like that.

-Always on empty?

——Empty means that there is no fuel in the tank, we couldn't even...

——Hmmm...You figured it out.

Please forget for a moment the first impression that the subtitles give you when you watch the film, and then take a look at my translation below:

- Need to cheer up.

- No, it's alright.

- No, it's all showing EMPTY.

- This car is often like this.

- Often showing EMPTY?

- (If it really is) EMPTY (if it is, then) means that there is not a drop of oil in the fuel tank, then we simply... (cannot even start)

——Hmph...you (really) figured it out.

Okay, I wonder how you feel when you read this now? First of all, I declare that I have absolutely no intention to translate in favor of my personal inclination. It can even be said that this translation is closer to literal translation.

Next is the key analysis, there are several places to pay attention to:

1--

Let's recall that the two brothers had many short and rapid mutual confrontations and denials in the film. This is the external manifestation of the two people's different views and attitudes towards lifestyle and details of things. For example, the younger brother wanted to drive, but was rejected by the older brother; the younger brother wanted to stay, but was rejected by the older brother; the younger brother slept in the upper bunk and wanted to finish his opinion on pedophilia, but was rejected by the older brother… and when the younger brother was receiving psychotherapy When he was pushing the cart with his brother at the end, he made it clear that he did not like this kind of lifestyle where everything was decided by his brother. He felt that his life was ruined by his brother.

Therefore, the last line of the film is very, very important - this is almost the first time that the elder brother has actively/completely/put down his attitude to agree with the younger brother's view of a thing.

When my brother said this, he first gave a cold "hum", feeling very reluctant, right? Of course, how can you lose to this idiot brother in such things as reasoning? But after thinking about it, I think what my brother just said seems to be right. If there is no fuel, how can the car still drive? It is estimated that this car is not only a problem with the battery, but also has a problem with the fuel level display...

Do you still remember, at the beginning of the film, my brother just wanted to replace the car with a new battery. Combined with the living conditions of the two brothers, it means that this car is definitely a problem car. Eighty percent of it was bought second-hand, and there are many problems. Then there is a problem with the oil level display, isn't it normal?

Since the car is still running and hasn't broken down, since my brother is still happily holding the steering wheel by his side, and since the two of us have just escaped and haven't died yet, why should I argue with him about who is right and who is wrong? ...Hmph, well, I'll leave the steering wheel to you... It seems that it's not a bad feeling that you don't have to control the direction yourself, at least you can rest your head against the window for a while... You're right, brother.

Note:

In fact, the younger brother doesn't want to fight with the elder brother any more. Look at the previous sentence "Then we don't even... (it's impossible to even start)", and the second half of the sentence was swallowed back.

2--

It is very important that you not only pay attention to the presentation of the details of the scenes and things in the film, but also the emotions and performances of the characters, especially the details of facial expressions.

For the same line, if the characters have different expressions, it will affect the audience's judgment on the meaning of the line.

So, please take a closer look at the emotions and expressions of the younger brother and the older brother when they say the last two lines in the film. Is there a feeling of letting go and becoming calmer? Is there still a feeling of relief and relief? There is no trace of despair and fear of "suddenly finding myself still in a loop".

In addition, please note that after the two brothers found their car rushed out of the barrier, their performance was a burst of ecstasy shouting and excited hand dance. Since their attitude towards "successfully escaped" is ecstasy, what should their attitude towards "suddenly returning to hell"? According to the normal emotional logic of the two brothers, it should be a terrified expression, or at least a speechless expression, right? But neither, but relief and calm.

Note:

I saw some analysts say that my brother has always known that the two are still in a cycle, so the last sentence I said to my brother means that you finally understand that we are still in a cycle.

This claim is untenable.

Please look at the ecstasy that came from the heart after the two escaped. If the elder brother knew from the beginning that the two had not escaped, then he was also ecstatic with his younger brother. What did he want? Confused brother? Test your brother? ill? Or is the director's guidance wrong? Logically it doesn't make sense at all.

3——

To be honest, I still don't understand how some analysis links the question of "the car shows that there is oil or not/can it be driven" with the question of "whether the two brothers are still in the cycle".

Well, even if the car shows no gas and can still drive, what does this have to do with cycling? Can a car in the cycle not burn oil? ...these two things are not logically connected at all.

Therefore, the fact that the car can be driven without fuel does not prove that the two brothers are still in the cycle, it can only prove that the indicator light is broken-unfortunately, I am afraid that this EMPTY display does not provide a more meaningful interpretation.

The above is my interpretation of the question of whether the brothers escaped the cycle in the end from the perspective of lines and performances.

Personal humble opinion, welcome to discuss.

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Extended Reading

The Endless quotes

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