Hundreds of Beavers

In the end, Jean succeeds in winning the merchant’s daughter and completing his quest to hunt hundreds of beavers, which is the condition for asking her hand in marriage. After a series of humorous, video game-like tasks—like trapping beavers, chopping wood, and spying on wolves—Jean manages to fulfill all the merchant’s demands. The finale unfolds as Jean ventures into the beaver’s HQ, revealing what they do with the logs—essentially, their busy, log-transporting routines. Despite the chaos, Jean pulls through, turning from a hapless outsider into a resourceful hero. With all the quests completed, Jean’s reward is the daughter’s love, and the film concludes with a seemingly happy ending.

However, the true charm and message of Hundreds of Beavers lie in its playful absurdity. The story hardly matters; what truly counts is the comic spectacle of Jean’s relentless efforts, the cartoonish antics of the beavers, and the film’s whimsical, almost dreamlike tone. The ending, therefore, can be seen as a satire of traditional fairy-tale romances and adventure stories, emphasizing that the real victory isn’t just in winning the girl or completing quests, but in embracing the unpredictable, mischievous spirit of the journey itself. Ultimately, the film reminds us that sometimes, the most meaningful endings are those rooted in absurdity and joy, rather than logic or conventional happily-ever-afters.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:02