So did Inception‘s ending really frustrate you? Do you just have to know what it meant? Well then you are in luck, because there has been some recent developments in that very area.
While Christopher Nolan and the cast will not tell you what the ending means, that doesn’t mean the costume designer has to keep tight-lipped.
SPOILERS for the end of Inception coming your way.
The film’s ending has been up for debate: Is Leonardo DiCaprio‘s character, Cobb, awake or still dreaming at the end of the movie?
Clothes on Film interviewed the film’s costume designer, Jeffrey Kurland, who ended up giving up a significant detail about the scene in which Cobb is reunited with this children.
Clothes on Film: How much does costume reflect the inner machinations of the plot, particularly in a film such as Inception? For example, Cobb’s children are wearing the same clothes at the end of the story as they are in his dream ‘memory’ throughout the film. Is there something to be interpreted here?
Jeffrey Kurland: Costume design reflects greatly on the movement of the plot, most significantly through character development. Character development is at the forefront of costume design. The characters move the story along and with the director and the actor the costume designer helps to set the film’s emotional tone in a visual way. In a more physical sense the costumes’ style and color help to keep the story on track, keeping a check on time and place.
On to the second part of your question, the children’s clothing is different in the final scene “¦ look again “¦
If you look at the film’s listing on IMDB, it has older children cast for the later scenes showing that age may play a factor in when we see the children, possibly meaning that this is no longer a dream.
In an interview with NYMag one of the film’s stars, Dileep Rao, gave his thoughts on the movie and speculated that Cobb had woken up at the end of the movie. The actor talked about how the sound led him to believe the top was going to fall. I would have to agree at this point because I think the sound design on the movie was very well done and that if you listen carefully you can here a difference in sound when the top is going to fall and when it is not.
So, does all of this help you make up your mind? I had already made my decision upon second viewing of the film. But who knows, maybe I could have been dreaming that decision the whole time. I could be dreaming right now. Is it real or a dream?
I actually did not come away from it frustrated at all. The ending, regardless if it was a dream or not, doesn’t change the fact that the other 99% of the film was awesome! So if it was just another layer or not is irrelevant to me. I enjoyed the thrill ride and the underlying story about love, redemption, and consequences.
I’ve said all along, it doesn’t matter if he was dreaming or not. The point of the film is, you determine your own reality. Where he was, was real. As the old guy in the basement said, “Who are you to say different?”
In the last scene the Children’s Grandfather arrives at airport to receive Christopher Nolan & children’s live with their Grandfather, However in the start of film the Phone conversation of Christopher with his children shows that Children live with their Grandmother. That’s the twist, hence we can conclude that Christopher Nolan is still dreaming…
Notice how in the film, the characters are all dressed in clothing styles from the past. However, when dreaming their subconcious views other individuals as a more modern dress hence the idea that there is a twist involving the time period. Not sure what this means, but definetly worthful information.
[Cont] However, when dreaming their subconcious views other individuals as a more modern dress hence the idea that there is a twist involving the time period. Not sure what this means, but definetly worthful information.
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Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press
I actually did not come away from it frustrated at all. The ending, regardless if it was a dream or not, doesn’t change the fact that the other 99% of the film was awesome! So if it was just another layer or not is irrelevant to me. I enjoyed the thrill ride and the underlying story about love, redemption, and consequences.
Comment by Slipstream — August 3, 2010 @ 8:21 pm
I’ve said all along, it doesn’t matter if he was dreaming or not. The point of the film is, you determine your own reality. Where he was, was real. As the old guy in the basement said, “Who are you to say different?”
Comment by Drew — August 3, 2010 @ 11:28 pm
It’s not his dream
Comment by cGt2099 — August 4, 2010 @ 10:18 am
None of it was a dream. It was all reality. The dream never happened. /s
Comment by Shaun — August 4, 2010 @ 11:38 am
@Slipstream
All true, but still, damn, that’s pretty funny how similar they are.
Comment by Empress Eve — August 4, 2010 @ 4:28 pm
In the last scene the Children’s Grandfather arrives at airport to receive Christopher Nolan & children’s live with their Grandfather, However in the start of film the Phone conversation of Christopher with his children shows that Children live with their Grandmother. That’s the twist, hence we can conclude that Christopher Nolan is still dreaming…
Comment by Mayur — December 11, 2010 @ 6:03 pm
Notice how in the film, the characters are all dressed in clothing styles from the past. However, when dreaming their subconcious views other individuals as a more modern dress hence the idea that there is a twist involving the time period. Not sure what this means, but definetly worthful information.
Comment by khalfani — December 30, 2010 @ 3:54 am
[Cont] However, when dreaming their subconcious views other individuals as a more modern dress hence the idea that there is a twist involving the time period. Not sure what this means, but definetly worthful information.
Comment by khalfani — December 30, 2010 @ 4:00 am