The End of Man (1971) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Finis Hominis is Latin for 'the end of man.' The priest first whispers this phrase when the mysterious stranger drinks holy water in the church. When later questioned by police, the man simply states this as his name, accepting the label the priest gave him. The title suggests he represents either a apocalyptic figure or the conclusion of humanity as previously known.

Foreshadowing: The priest's utterance in church foreshadows both his naming and the existential themes surrounding his impact on society.

• finis hominis
• name meaning
• latin
• priest
• church scene

He startles her. When he approaches her on the street, his sudden, inexplicable naked presence shocks her so intensely that her adrenaline spikes and her legs suddenly work again. This first 'miracle' happens purely through psychological shock rather than any supernatural power, though witnesses interpret it as a divine act.

Foreshadowing: This initial event establishes the pattern: his mere presence triggers dramatic physical responses in people, setting up later interpretations of him as a miracle worker.

• wheelchair
• miracle
• walking
• first act
• startling

The film leaves this deliberately ambiguous. While his actions are explainable through coincidence and psychological effect, the narrative also includes what appears to be a genuine resurrection of a man in catalepsy. The final revelation that he escaped from an insane asylum suggests his 'miracles' may have been the product of a disturbed mind, though the film never definitively resolves whether he possessed any real supernatural abilities.

Foreshadowing: The ending revelation recontextualizes everything, but earlier scenes already hint at his unstable nature through his deadpan, blank demeanor.

• supernatural
• asylum
• mental illness
• miracles
• ambiguity

He was an inmate who escaped. The final scene reveals the 'mountaintop' was actually the grounds of an insane asylum, and the two men in white uniforms are attendants who seem expectantly pleased to see him return. His entire journey, from emerging from the ocean to becoming a global messiah figure, was actually an escape that played out on an unimaginable scale, or perhaps a delusion within the institution.

Foreshadowing: The priest's ominous phrase 'Finis hominis' and his deadpan, unsettling demeanor throughout hint that something is fundamentally wrong with his identity.

• asylum
• ending
• return
• escape
• confinement
• twist

He walks to the altar, fills a chalice with holy water, and drinks it without hesitation or reaction. The act is deliberately blasphemous and transgressive, yet he shows no emotion, only a calm, puzzled response when the priest says 'Finis hominis.' This moment solidifies his messianic aura while also challenging religious boundaries, suggesting he exists outside normal moral or spiritual rules.

Foreshadowing: This scene directly establishes the name 'Finis Hominis' that he later adopts, linking religious symbolism with his mysterious identity.

• church
• holy water
• chalice
• priest
• blasphemy
• altar

The man he 'resurrects' was actually in a state of temporary nervous catalepsy, a rare neurological condition that mimics death. Finis Hominis's presence or actions somehow triggered the man's return to consciousness, which witnesses interpreted as a miraculous resurrection. The film presents this as ambiguous, either a coincidental recovery or an unexplained ability.

Foreshadowing: Earlier 'miracles' like the wheelchair incident already established his ability to trigger dramatic physical changes in others through mysterious means.

• resurrection
• dead man
• catalepsy
• miracle
• revival

People follow him because they desperately want to believe in something extraordinary. His miracles, whether real or misinterpreted, combined with his calm mystique and refusal to explain himself, create a perfect blank canvas for projection. The film critiques this human tendency, crowds project their spiritual needs onto any compelling figure, especially in times of uncertainty. His global following grows through rumor, spectacle, and the human need for a savior.

Foreshadowing: Early reactions of awe from bystanders after his rescues establish the pattern of uncritical adoration that will escalate worldwide.

• followers
• crowd
• worship
• belief
• mass phenomenon
• society

His nudity strips away social pretense and societal clothing, both literally and figuratively. By appearing unclothed, he removes the masks people wear, forcing them to confront something raw and elemental. This vulnerability also makes him appear either completely innocent or completely dangerous, neither of which invites resistance. The nudity contributes to his image as either a divine being above social norms or a wild, unpredictable force.

Foreshadowing: His emergence from the ocean, birth-like and unclothed, establishes him as something primal and outside normal human civilization.

• naked
• nudity
• symbolism
• nakedness
• emergence
• primal

The ending reveals that the entire global phenomenon, the miracles, the messianic ascent, the worldwide farewell speech, was either an escape from or a delusion within an insane asylum. Every transformation he sparked in others, every life he touched, every crowd that gathered to worship him, all of it is invalidated by the revelation that he was never free, never truly 'special,' just a patient. The film critiques both the people who blindly followed him and the very concept of messianic belief.

Foreshadowing: The priest's ominous utterance, his deadpan demeanor, and the vague 'world leaders warning' of danger all foreshadow that something is fundamentally wrong with this figure.

• ending
• irony
• bleak
• twist
• asylum
• message
• critique

They are attendants at the insane asylum. When they say 'Here he comes. I told you. He always returns,' it suggests this is not his first escape, the pattern of emerging, causing chaos, and returning has happened before. They wait for him with the calm familiarity of staff who know a particular patient well. This transforms the entire narrative from a messiah story into a循环 of escape and recapture.

Foreshadowing: The cyclical nature of the narrative, combined with world leaders warning of his 'danger,' hints at a repeating pattern rather than a unique event.

• men in white
• attendants
• asylum
• return
• ending scene
• staff

These incidents cement his reputation as a savior. He rescues an adulteress from what appears to be a dangerous situation, and saves a young girl from some threat, exact details aren't specified in the summary. These acts transform him from a curiosity into a full-blown religious figure. News spreads rapidly, and each rescue fuels more rumors of supernatural power, accelerating his rise to messianic status.

Foreshadowing: These events follow the pattern established by his first acts, his presence triggers dramatic changes in dangerous situations, building his legend.

• adulteress
• young girl
• rescue
• saves
• savior
• legend growth