A Master Builder

Year: 2014

Runtime: 130 min

Language: English

Director: Jonathan Demme

Drama

A renowned architect's life takes a dark turn as a mysterious figure resurfaces, confronting him with a past he thought buried. Haunted by accusations of a forgotten wrongdoing, he struggles to piece together fragmented memories. The unfolding truth exposes a tangled history of deception and regret, forcing him to confront painful realities and profoundly impacting the lives of those involved.

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A Master Builder (2014) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of A Master Builder (2014), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

In the serene and picturesque town of Norway, architect Halvard Solness has earned a commendable reputation through his exceptional craftsmanship. Happily married to Aline, he has dedicated years to perfecting his skills, establishing himself as a master builder in his community. However, one ordinary day, while conferring with his old friend Doctor Herdal, Solness’s peaceful existence is upended by the unexpected arrival of Hilde Wangel, a vibrant 22-year-old woman. The doctor, who has just returned from a long journey, immediately recognizes Hilde, adding an air of intrigue to the situation.

Once the doctor departs, Hilde turns her attention to Solness, reminding him of their shared history. She boldly recounts their encounter at her childhood home a decade ago, when she was a mere 12 years old. Unfazed by Solness’s initial silence, she passionately revisits the memories of their past, detailing his previous attempts to win her over with dreams of greatness that left her captivated. Reluctantly, Solness comes to terms with these memories, allowing Hilde to embed herself into his life.

As Solness approaches the completion of his most ambitious project, which features magnificent steeples reaching towards the sky, Hilde uncovers the architect’s profound fear of heights—his acrophobia. However, instead of shying away from his fears, she encourages him to rise above them by climbing to the top of the structures at their grand unveiling. Motivated by her words, Solness embarks on a symbolic journey, envisioning himself conquering the heights as he hangs a celebratory wreath on the newly constructed home meant for his wife.

In a breathtaking revelation, it becomes clear that Hilde’s presence has been an illusion, an elaborate fabric of Solness’s imagination. As he perishes in this dreamlike landscape, surrounded by the fruits of his labor and the metaphorical significance of the wreath, the truth is unveiled: Solness has never truly left his bed, trapped within a labyrinth of his own creation where the boundaries between reality and fantasy dissolve, depicting a poignant narrative of a life lived through the rich tapestry of imagination.

Last Updated: November 18, 2024 at 20:51

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Movies about confronting the past on a deathbed like A Master Builder

Characters forced to face their buried past as their life reaches its end.If you liked A Master Builder's exploration of a dying man's psychological reckoning, you'll find similar stories here. These movies focus on characters revisiting their past sins and deceptions as they face mortality, offering a heavy, melancholic viewing experience centered on memory and regret.

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Stories in this thread typically follow a linear but psychologically complex path. A dying protagonist is visited by someone connected to a past transgression, triggering a series of flashbacks or confrontations that blur the line between memory and present reality. The central conflict is internal, leading to a climactic revelation of truth that is often tragic or sorrowful.

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The narrative pattern involves a central character whose perception of events is unreliable. The story unfolds through their subjective experience, blending hallucinations, memories, and reality without clear demarcations. This creates a moderate complexity as the audience must decipher the truth, typically leading to a revelation about the character's mental state or a painful reality they've been avoiding.

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