i'm thinking of ending things

The ending of “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” is deliberately ambiguous and open to interpretation, reflecting the film’s themes of memory, identity, and the fluid nature of reality. Throughout the movie, the characters’ identities and the line between dreams and reality blur, creating a surreal experience where it becomes difficult to distinguish what is real. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the girl, played by Jessie Buckley, is a reflection of the aging housekeeper or janitor at the school, and her trip to meet her boyfriend’s parents is a symbolic journey into her own subconscious. The snowy landscape and the isolated farm symbolize themes of melancholy, stagnation, and the endless passage of time—elements that Kaufman suggests are subjective and mentally constructed, not objective truths.

In the final moments, it appears that the characters are actually reflections or memories rather than living individuals. The young girl’s memories and experiences seem to be intertwined with the regret, loneliness, and longing of the older man, who is possibly the janitor or housekeeper reflecting on his life and his missed opportunities. The film hints at the idea that time is a construct of the mind, and the characters’ identities are fluid, often shifting without clear boundaries. The dance scene, for example, illustrates how the characters express emotion through movement, emphasizing the film’s exploration of subconscious thoughts and feelings.

Ultimately, the film does not provide a straightforward resolution but rather invites viewers to accept its dreamlike, elliptical nature. It suggests that life, identity, and reality are less fixed than they seem; instead, they are shaped by internal perceptions and memories—an endless, surreal cycle where the boundaries between the past, present, and future dissolve. The ending leaves us with a haunting sense that we are all, in some way, living inside a mental construct, continuously revising our understanding of reality until it becomes indistinguishable from a dream.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:58