Above and Below

At the end of As Above, So Below, only three characters remain alive: Zed, George, who is gravely wounded, and Scarlett, who believes she has the philosopher’s stone in her possession. Their journey through the catacombs has been driven by a quest for redemption and faith, with each character carrying their own sins — Zed’s guilt over his absent son and George’s role in his brother’s death, while Scarlett’s sins include neglecting her father before his suicide and stealing the stone.

Scarlett’s realization that the philosopher’s stone is not a physical object but a symbol of belief is a pivotal moment. She understands that true power lies in faith—that the stone’s abilities depend on her trust in it and in herself. With this insight, she manages to revive George, whose life hangs in the balance. The survivors then confess their sins and decide to escape by crawling through a manhole, emerging safely back onto the streets of Paris, echoing the film’s thematic link to Dante’s Inferno — the idea that to find redemption, one must descend into the depths.

The conclusion suggests that the real journey was inward—facing personal demons and unresolved guilt. Scarlett’s act of returning the stone symbolizes her attempt at repentance, and her faith in herself and her beliefs serves as her salvation. The film ultimately portrays a tale of confronting one’s inner darkness to find redemption and hope, tying the narrative to both Dante’s poetic exploration of hell and the notion that true salvation begins within. The ambiguous ending leaves viewers pondering whether Scarlett’s redemption is complete, emphasizing that sometimes, faith and forgiveness are what truly set us free from our hells.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:59