The ending of ‘Leave The World Behind’ leaves many Netflix viewers unsatisfied. There are numerous complaints about the final on social media. People are wondering if there is more to come or if Netflix will run out of money too quickly. And very often the word we used at the beginning of this paragraph comes up: The very open ending is somehow “unsatisfying” and can be read multiple times.
Of course, those responsible had a plan for the ending – which also differs from the finale in author Rumaan Alam’s novel. Besides, even he defends the film’s ending, which is different from his story. But first things first. What happens again in the movie and the book?
The ending: with “Friends” in the movie, with supplies in the book
At the end of both the film and book versions of Leave The World Behind, Rose (Farrah Mackenzie) comes across a house. While in the book she uses the discovery to gather supplies and then heads out again, in the film she stays in the house. Because when she discovers a DVD player and all the seasons of the sitcom ‘Friends’, she decides to settle down so she can finally catch up on the finale of the hit series. The collapse of the Internet and Co. after all, their binge-watching of the sitcom was abruptly interrupted just before the finale.
So both versions have a kind of open ending, instead of letting the apocalyptic scenario itself end. But while in the book everything at least looks like Rose would continue to help the others, provide them with food, etc., her movie alter ego seems to be all about the possibility of finding out if Ross and Rachel are a couple again will become. others forget…
Changes from book to film – different experiences
There are other changes from book to film. George (Mahershala Ali) and Ruth (Myha’la Herrol) are father and daughter in the film, while in the book they are a slightly older married couple. The magazine Director Sam Esmail explains that he is not a fan of making an exact copy of a novel. Both works must be independent. There should be different experiences, “so you can read the book and watch the movie without one spoiling the other,” He also leads the series “Mr. Robot” and “Homecoming” are well-known director and author. For him, the book and the film are “two different pieces, two different interpretations of the same story.”
He has the support of novelist Rumaan Alam, who not only accepted the changes in his template but even supported them. He specifically mentions the new ending in the interview “so satisfying” – thus choosing the exact opposite expression that we have heard in some voices on social media.
The power of television
He likes the ‘self-reflection’ in it from director Esmail, who has also worked a lot in television: with the ending he expresses ‘something about the power of this medium and its influence on this one character.’
The new ending is funny, but it’s not a joke – neither about Rose nor about “Friends” and it’s certainly not meant to fool the audience. Still, he is happy with the confused reactions: “No one actually knows what to think about it. You think to yourself: is this funny? Is that scary? Is it really over? And I like that so much.”
Alam cannot understand the desire for a final solution. “Wouldn’t that be frustrating?”he asks like this. He believes that “Leave The World Behind” “respects” the audience with its open ending. It’s just not the kind of movie where there’s suddenly a resolution at the end and everything is fine again.