TÁR

The ending of “Tár” is layered with ambiguity and open to interpretation. As Lydia Tár’s professional and personal worlds collapse—she loses her prestigious positions, faces protests, and becomes isolated—she seems to spiral into a state of mental disintegration. Some argue that the scenes showing her attacking her replacement conductor and the disturbing images at the brothel might be hallucinations or symbols of her guilt and psychological torment. The film subtly suggests that Lydia is haunted by her past actions, especially regarding her abusive relationships with students and the tragic suicide of Krista, her former protégée. These echoes of her guilt and shame are reinforced by the final scene, where Lydia conducts a performance of the video game Monster Hunter, a strange and almost surreal choice. This scene, with its heightened realism and bizarre context, can be seen as a hallucination or a symbolic reflection of her inner state—highlighting her mental unraveling rather than a literal continuation of her life. Within this interpretation, Lydia’s conduct of Monster Hunter, a game about a hunt or a monster, cleverly symbolizes her own perception as a monster—haunted by her past and constantly in pursuit of some form of redemption or escape. The film’s choice to end with her performing in front of cosplayers, conducting a score from a video game, underscores her downfall from revered artist to a humbling figure who is still driven by her obsession with music, despite everything. Ultimately, “Tár” invites viewers to consider whether Lydia’s final moments are real or a manifestation of her fractured mind—leaving her fate open-ended—while highlighting the film’s themes of guilt, abuse, and the destructive pattern of power and violence. The movie’s ending, complex and unsettling, leaves much to ponder about Lydia’s true state of mind and whether she might still be capable of revival or if she is doomed to remain haunted by her past.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44