Guides And Explainers

The Enigmatic 'Take This Waltz' Movie Ending: A Deep Dive

Hey there, movie buffs! Today, we're diving into the beautifully complex world of Sarah Polley's 2011 film, 'Take This Waltz' , and we're going to tackle that ending that's left...

Mara Ellison
The Enigmatic 'Take This Waltz' Movie Ending: A Deep Dive

The Enigmatic 'Take This Waltz' Movie Ending: A Deep Dive

Hey there, movie buffs! Today, we're diving into the beautifully complex world of Sarah Polley's 2011 film, 'Take This Waltz', and we're going to tackle that ending that's left us all scratching our heads. So, grab your popcorn, get comfy, and let's break it down, together! Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and take this waltz movie ending.

A Dance of Emotions: 'Take This Waltz' in a Nutshell

Before we waltz into the ending, let's quickly recap the film. 'Take This Waltz', starring Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen, is a romantic drama that follows Margot, a married woman who finds herself drawn to her neighbor, Daniel, a handsome and charismatic artist. The film is a whirlwind of emotions, exploring themes of love, marriage, infidelity, and self-discovery. It's a dance, indeed, and a complex one at that.

The Big Question: What's Up with That Ending?

Alright, guys, let's talk about the elephant in the room. That ending! It's ambiguous, it's thought-provoking, and it's left many of us wondering, "What just happened?" Let's analyze the final scenes and try to make some sense of it all.

The Final Scene: A Dance on the Beach

The film's climax finds Margot and Daniel on a beach, dancing to the Leonard Cohen song that gives the film its title. They're intimate, they're laughing, but there's a tension, a sense that something's not quite right. Then, Margot walks away, leaving Daniel alone on the beach.

What's going on here? This scene is a perfect example of Polley's style - she's not going to spell it out for us. Instead, she's inviting us to interpret, to fill in the blanks. Let's consider a few possibilities.

Option 1: Margot Chooses Her Husband

Some viewers argue that Margot's decision to leave Daniel on the beach signifies that she's choosing her marriage over the affair. After all, she's been grappling with guilt throughout the film. This interpretation suggests that the dance on the beach is Margot's goodbye to Daniel and the life she could have had with him.

Option 2: The Dance Isn't Over Yet

Others see this scene as a continuation, not a resolution. Margot's walk away could be seen as a pause, a moment to catch her breath, rather than a final decision. In this reading, Margot isn't choosing one man over the other; she's choosing both. This interpretation is supported by the film's title - a waltz is a dance with many steps, many partners, and many changes of direction.

The Final Shot: A House Divided

The film's final shot is a close-up of Margot's face, her expression unreadable. It's a mirror image of the film's opening shot, which also featured Margot's face, but with a clear expression of longing. This symmetry suggests a cyclical nature to Margot's journey - she's come full circle, but what has she learned? What has she gained?

This final shot also echoes the film's exploration of duality - Margot is torn between two men, two lives, two versions of herself. The ambiguity of her expression leaves us with more questions than answers, inviting us to reflect on our own interpretations.

The Music: A Clue to the Ending

'Take This Waltz' is named after, and heavily features, Leonard Cohen's song of the same name. The song is a complex, multilayered exploration of love, loss, and longing. Its lyrics - "I want to pack my bags right now and head for the coast / Take this waltz, my dear, before the music stops" - could be seen as Margot's internal struggle. She's torn between the safety of her marriage and the allure of the unknown.

The song's final lines - "Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin / Dance me through the panic till I'm gathered safely in" - could be seen as a plea for resolution, for an end to the panic and uncertainty.

The Takeaway: The Power of Ambiguity

So, what's the moral of the story? Why does Polley leave us with such an ambiguous ending? Well, guys, it's all about the power of ambiguity. Life is messy, it's complex, and it's full of gray areas. 'Take This Waltz' reminds us that there are no easy answers, no clear-cut solutions. It's a dance, a waltz, and sometimes, the music just keeps playing.

In the end, the 'Take This Waltz' movie ending is what you make of it. So, grab your partner, take your pick, and dance, dance, dance. The music's still playing, after all.

And there you have it, folks! Our deep dive into the enigmatic 'Take This Waltz' movie ending. We hope we've given you some food for thought, some new angles to consider. Until next time, happy dancing!

Related Reading

More pages in this topic cluster.

Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, and Dodge: The Ultimate Guide to

Hey there, dodgeball enthusiasts! Today, we're going to dive into the colorful, vibrant world of dodgeball movie uniforms. You know, those iconic outfits that make us say, "I wa...

Read next
Luigi's Iconic Dance Moves: The Ultimate Guide to the

Hey there, gaming enthusiasts! Today, we're diving into the world of Nintendo's beloved plumber, Luigi, and his luigi dance gif fame. If you're a fan of the Super Mario series,...

Read next
Top Disney Movies to Watch Before Your Disney World

Hey there, Disney enthusiasts! Planning a trip to Disney World? That's awesome! To get you even more excited, we've put together a list of Disney movies to watch before going to...

Read next