Some of the main themes in the movie aremarriage, trust, and infidelity. There are numerous loose ends and open ended possibilities. But What is , , really? The problem is that this infidelity didnt even occur in the physical world. Eyes Wide Shut: Ending Explained The ending of the movie Eyes Wide Shut shows us that Bill and Alice know too much about each other and the adultery they are capable of committing, yet they would prefer to live blissfully, ignoring it all. It is likely that these masked balls are regular events and that each guest has a specific mask that they always wear. What is the real meaning of Eyes Wide Shut? In this scene we clearly see that Harford belongs to a class higher than these "normal" people who harassed him thus illuminating how up the food chain these ultra rich in there castles were. She had to show restraint while (from her perspective) he was gone for an hour doing who knows what. This is a subtle line implying that she might have some awareness of the event that Bill is heading to. Also, everything at the orgy is a stage show for Bill and it really wont begin properly until he leaves. Dr. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. So, is ignorance bliss? While at the Christmas party he is seduced and declines, during the night and the masked ball, he attempts to have sex, but never succeeds. This scene puts Dr. Harford's social class in context. *The Region 3 release (Hong Kong) is uncut, but does NOT contain the passages from the Bhagavad Gita recited during the orgy scene. Brunette Indian Dancing The Ritual Dance On Their Place. Related: Every Stanley Kubrick Movie Ranked, Worst To Best. While its easy to judge them, who is to say that this will not work for the two. Bill does confess. She may have discovered it lying around after it was accidentally misplaced by Bill. Trivia was her Roman epithet, which she shared with Diana/Artemis in their respective duties as protectors of travel and crossroads. Was this a fantasy she had of the original party? Once you understand that Pollack is Red Cloak, then you come to understand that there was only ever one party - in two forms - on the same night. Well, despite his curiosity, it seems that, by the end of the movie, Bill voluntarily chooses toreturn to the state of blissful ignorance. Bill then expresses gratitude for Dominos time and departs for the night after compensating her. In the UK, upon the film's theatrical release, no alternations where made, and in Australia, the film has been released (theatrical, home video and DVD) in an unchanged form.ALTERNATE VERSIONS OF THE FILM INCLUDE:*All British prints are missing the recitation of a passage from the Bhagavad Gita (the holiest Hindu book) during an orgy scene. Some notable ones include:2001: A Space Odyssey: A sign on a building prominently displays the name "Bowman", a reference to David Bowman, a major character in the film. Second, his behavior was probably suspicious from a mile away. In the first part of this series on Eyes Wide Shut, we looked at main characters of the film and the symbolic world Kubrick created around them. Next, Bill embarks on a night-long journey filled with intrigue, which includes: infiltrating an unnamed secret society with a rented Venetian mask and a password: Fidelio. Shes a super-fan of Game of Thrones, Cats, and Indie Rock Music and can often be found engrossed in complex films and books. Cookie Notice Eyes Wide Shut: Directed by Stanley Kubrick. of their value on the sexual market. When Bill arrives uninvited to the Jacobethan mansion for the special ceremony, he witnesses the master of ceremonies (Red Cloak) perform the occult rite at Mentmores Grand Hall. Also, in another scene, Harford mentions a patient named "Kaminsky", a name given to one of the three men in hibernation aboard Discovery.Barry Lyndon: Bill's mask was modelled after Ryan O'Neal, who played the title character.Full Metal Jacket In the scene where Alice leaves Bill's mask on his pillow, a stack of Kubrick's films can be seen on a table. On Edit: I just noticed that the above clip of the pool table scene did not include the ball hitting and the chalk hitting. The masked man, Red Cloak, is a leader of the organization/cult whose orgy Bill attends. We use cookies to optimize our website and our service. They say thatwhat we dont know cant hurt us, but where are you willing to draw the line of blissful ignorance for the sake of your happiness? One intriguing reading of the Eyes Wide Shutmask being on the pillow is that it's only in Bill's head as if he's exhausted by trying to hide his attempts at infidelity or true feelings from Alice, leading to an emotional breakdown. Starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, the leading Hollywood power couple of the day, Eyes Wide Shut wasn't quite the erotic thriller that its marketing made it out to be. Who is Red Cloak? Third, chances are that its a close-knit group, and every new face/mask evokes suspicion. The next night, he goes to her place, remorseful that he has missed out on his opportunity, only to find out (from her roommate) that she was diagnosed with HIV that very morning. Humans are programmed to have impulses, and relationships and marriages are human-created constructs. Could they have been as tragical as Bills potential elopement with Domino? More importantly, is the infidelity in thought any less devastating than one in the flesh? What did Leelee Sobieski whisper into Tom Cruise's ear at the costume shop. No, Alice was not at the party with the ritual. He also learns of a, the situation turns from strange to outright dangerous, . That double-hitting is something I saw earlier in the film. Fri 3rd Mar 2023 10.00 GMT. Edit, You should have a cloak lined with ermine. At the party, Bill is discovered as an impostor. Lets discuss in the comments below. By the end of the movie, Bill was more than happy to. It is also the Italian word for fidelity, which is both fitting and ironic given the circumstances. Watch his stick and as he hits it against the red floor: At the end of that scene (not in this clip), the two men are enveloped in blue light, just like they are later in the film. Who was the masked cult leader in the red cloak? No, it was not a dream, or rather there is not a lot of evidence that points to the fact that it was all a dream. The orgy is described in his wifes dream. While this scenario may not be the most likely one, its not outside of the realm of possibility. big tits, cumshot, japanese, asian, blowjob. She has a keen eye for detail and a natural talent for storytelling. Kubrick has updated the story to present-day New York City, with Cruise and Kidman playing Dr. William and Alice Harford, the two principals. 13 Amazing Movies Filmed In A Single Location, 10 Best Sci-fi Horror Movies (A Must-Watch List), Mind Bending Movies Explained: Browse In Alphabetic Order, The Empty Man Explained (Plot And Ending), The Menu Movie Explained (Every Question Answered), The Black Phone Explained (Every Question Answered), Jung_E Plot And Ending Explained (Korean Film), You Should Have Left Explained (Plot And Ending), Being John Malkovich Explained (Plot And Ending), Gods Crooked Lines: Explained (Ending: Was Alice Insane? We can certainly go on and on. Pay close attention to Sydney Pollack's hands. So far, Domino has shown him kindness and concern. Note: when Bill is forced to take off his mask at the masked party/orgy he holds onto it for the rest of the scene. Did Bill get HIV? Both Bill and Alice areattractive young peopleat the peakof their value on the sexual market. 3. Unlike in movies like Filth, here, secret societies are portrayed as far less trivial and far more sinister. There are flirtations (Ziegler with Bill's wife) and innuendo, seduction (the man Alice is dancing with). It is overly long. Was this a damning criticism of religious rituals? Similarly, Victor, like Virgil, is wise and protective of Bill. In the first scene with Alice, the doors obviously begin several inches from the ground above an encasement and are hinged so they open out. Interesting theory..Not sure I agree, but its refreshing to hear this opposed that it's about Kubrick exposing this an that an its the cause of his death yaddya yaya. This is the base psychological reality of the Zeigler party laid bare.But some of the strongest suggestions that Zeigler is Red Cloak happen late in the film at Zeigler's mansion during his discussion with Bill about the orgy gathering;Note how Zeigler had a red-colored billiards table and he walks around the pool table during most of the scene. Well never know, seeing as how, the road not taken forever remains a mystery. *In the DVD/Video version, when Nicole Kidman gives her monologue about yearning for the Naval Officer, she mouths the words "We made love." The film is also, interestingly enough, un-edited in all international versions. Answer (1 of 4): The End Of the movie is the key to understand the whole movie. However, as we might imagine, there were many who believed his death was far from natural. The big question is how did the mask get there, and who left it? The name of the store where Bill rents his elite ritual costume: "Rainbow". We dont know. In keeping with the filmmaker's quest for perfection, the shoot for Eyes Wide Shut famously rolled on, with the movie holding the record for the longest consecutiveshoot, as filming began in late 1996 and wrapped in mid-1998. However,a choice is never free of consequences. Furthermore, a Rota Fortunae of women appears in the Masked Ball ritual, and the master of ceremonies spins a ceremonial wheel, so to speak, dispatching ladies of the night at random. Edit, In the novella the doctor assumes that his wife found the mask. The goddess Fortuna (Greek equivalent: Tyche) owns the wheel, which she spins at random, changing the positions of those who sit on it; some suffer terrible misfortune while others gain immense profits. If the woman in the mask had been the same woman as Mandy, you would. The films leitmotif is domesticity, sexual disturbance, and dreams, all conveyed in an enigmatic manner. However, Sobieski was only 14 or 15 at the time of filming. Her work on the 1999 feature - Kubrick's final film - would make her name, with Stanley offering something scarce in the world of film music: free reign. Was this what Alices encounter with that naval officer would look like? Eyes Wide Shut (1999) is Stanley Kubricks final film, the directors final outing before his death at the end of the 20th Century. and our Throughout his adventures, like any dreamer, he is occasionally saved by the bell. While, this scenario may not be the most likely one. Given how upset she appeared following his confession, it's very unlikely she knew exactly what he was out doing, however. This may be stupid post and it is likely that others have long ago figured out what I just now realized. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Bill has a series of comforting minutes in her company: the warm apartment, Dominos enchanting embrace, and a magical kiss akin to kindling fire: a single ember to light his way through the darkness. At the party, Bill is discovered as an impostor. The ritual is all that remains, but it too is inverted. secrets that theyll never get to discover, . It is brilliant! while they were on vacation. This scene was filmed in an ac. Fidelio is also the name of the only opera by Beethoven, which tells how Leonore, disguised as a prison guard named "Fidelio," rescues her husband Florestan from death in a political prison.In addition, there are comprehensive websites that provide deep analysis on the film's hidden meaning. Clearly the two of them were engaged in a sexual act. Scioccato dalle rivelazioni di Alice, William esce ed inizia una peregrinazione per la citt che lo porter a scoprire nuovi mondi, persone insolite e soprattutto qualcosa di s . For example, the password for the orgy is "Fidelio," a word that points at the theme of marital fidelity, but does not indicate clearly that Bill's journey might be a dream. Metacritic Reviews. What were some of the references to Kubrick's other films? In the end, while thinking outside the box can be good for you. The verses, "paritranaya sadhunam, vinasaya ca duskritam, dharma-samstapanarthaya, sambhavami yuge yuge", are heard on the soundtrack (track 9), as well as the United States DVD releases. Marion, the patients enigmatic daughter, who appears distraught, decides to have a high old time with Bill and declares her love for him abruptly and ambiguously in the middle of the room where her late father lies. What's with the guys on the street jeering at Bill and calling him gay? Zeigler's Christmas party is a tinsel wrapped illusion of sophistication disguising the presence of "models" (hookers), drugs, and people flirting with each others partners. The movie went through post-production following Stanley Kubrick's death, though some have argued about how much it represents his intended vision. In the last few scenes, the couple seems to be traumatized but strongly determined to. In the film, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman play Bill and Alice Harford, a couple who have been married for nine years. Meanwhile, Bill is quietly summoned upstairs for what appears to be an emergency just as the two bewitching and haunting women are about to demonstrate where the rainbow ends.. What does the chanting at the mansion party mean? But as the films theme suggests, Bill decides to believe in what makes him comfortable and happy and not hunt out the truth. Oh, and if this article doesnt answer all of your questions, drop me a comment or an FB chat message, and Ill get you the answer. There is certainly a kind of uncanny suggestion of that through the dream and other things. | To be able to, . Loosely based on Arthur Schnitzler's novella Traumnovelle ( Dream Story ), Eyes Wide Shut is about an upper-middle class doctor (Cruise) who finds out his wife (Kidman) once fantasied about cheating on her husband. There is an overdosed hooker upstairs. We have to. Still, not every opportunity is worth taking advantage of. There was no second password, that was a trick question. To her son these words conveyed an extraordinary joy, as if it were settled, the expedition were bound to take place, and the wonder to which he had looked forward, for years and years it seemed, was, after a night's darkness and a day's sail, within touch . Lastly, the poem is more than a phantasmal physical journey to the afterlife; it is also a dream about transcendence and a metaphor for the poets enlightenment. Pingback: 9/11 Was The Worst Day in America and Now 11/9 Is the Second Worst Day | TIME IS ART . Tragically it was the director's final film with Kubrick dying less than a week after screening an incomplete cut for the studio and its stars. Todd Field, 59 Nick Nightingale. At this juncture is it possible that Bill was brought to the house as part of an occult ritual rather than as an afterthought, or is it just a trick of the light? Therefore, it is likely that some kind of unfortunate ordeal awaited the woman from the masked ball.Remember, Bill is actually quite gullible and never questions anything that he is told throughout the movie; he believes his wife, Alice, when she tells him of a fantasy about having a sexual tryst a naval officer; he believes Sally when she tells him that Domino is HIV positive; and he believes Victor in the scene in the billiard room about Mandy's death and Nick Nightingale being sent back to Seattle. Baron Guy and Baroness Marie-Hlne de Rothschild Cruise go free. Wedding mother and sonny gut and ritual son-in-law bang mother. Who put the mask on Bill's pillow in bed next to his wife? In the end, Alice reverts to her domestic persona; it all seems like a dream. her volunteer to sacrifice herself so the orgy managers would let Doctor. So, if she just decided to stay discrete, theres no way he would have ever found out. The picture begins with the distinctive surroundings and vividness of a dream. The difference is that the movie indicates that it might be better that way. Could they have been as tragical as Bills potential elopement with Domino? When Stanley Kubrick hired Jocelyn Pook to write the score for Eyes Wide Shut, she was a relatively unknown composer on the cusp of her big break. The woman, Mandy, dies. After that, she just puts on her mask of a loving partner and acts as if nothing happened. In the modern world, theres the idea that partners are not indispensable and that there are always other options out there. In 1994, Stanley Kubrick sent the screenwriter Frederic Raphael a novella about a doctor who embarks on a dark odyssey of the soul . *The original theatrical version included a goof in an early scene (a boom operator was reflected on a steel shower stall post in Victor Ziegler's bathroom) this has been digitally removed on the home video releases. Its possible that Alice was just frustrated that she refused the advances of a man she was attracted to while Bill was drooled over by two models just across the room. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. On the other hand, reversing the Wheel of Fortune Tarot card reveals recurring life lessons, patterns, and cycles. Although it is easy to miss upon a first viewing, note the parallels between Red Cloak's gestures with the incense ball and Ziegler's moves playing with the white cue ball at the billiards table, and later with the chalk how Zeigler hits the pool table twice while talking with Bill about the death of Mandy.Zeigler also points at Bill in a threatening manner when Bill questions him about the death of Mandy, which is very similar in camera angle to Red Cloak's threat to Bill at the mansion.Also, the scene with Bill and Zeigler ends with Bill stepping into a blue light emulating from outside a window. It is something that will go to bed with him forever. Pingback: Hollywood and The CIA: A Dark Marriage Revealed | News For The Blind. What is the significance of this ? The wife set everything up? He will continue to serve Ziegler and the elite and will know his place and live a nice life with his wife and family, actively ignoring the ugliness and danger that surrounds the ones above him. "you look beautiful" "you're not even looking". Join Charles Roberts, his Pikachu and his travelling companions as he attempts to become the ultimate Pokemon Trainer. I think you've already covered this in one . Citing contractual obligations to deliver an R rating during the theatrical release, Warner Bros. digitally altered the orgy scene for the American release of Eyes Wide Shut, blocking out images of extremely graphic sexuality by inserting additional figures into the scene to obscure the view, thus avoiding an adults-only NC-17 rating that might have limited distribution of the film, as some large American theaters and video store operators have a policy that disallows films with that rating. We weave our lives and then move through them. In the theatrical version and the original unrated trailer, when Cruise enters, the frame goes well below his navel. Also what was going on with the shop owner the next day, was he suggesting she was a hooker and he (Bill) could buy her company? Because, membership in a satnic cult is often started with the elected member brought blindfolded into a room of initiation. In the film, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman play Bill and Alice Harford, a couple who have been married for nine years. Edit. . He goes over there to express his condolences. Neither Bill nor Alice fit that definition, but its not a prerequisite for them to continue living their married life. Eyes Wide Shut: What The Mask On The Pillow Means, Every Stanley Kubrick Movie Ranked, Worst To Best, The Shining: Why Stanley Kubrick Changed Stephen King's Story, 6 Reasons Welcome To Derry Is More Exciting Than It Chapter 3, The New Mad Max Might Break A Decades Old Series Rule, Michael Douglas Has Super Blunt Response to Possible Ant-Man 4 Return. Did they kill Mandy? While its easy to judge them, who is to say that this will not work for the two. The Christmas party is the ritual party. However, I don't think you can try to rationalize it out and say it was flesh and blood really her or a scheme by her. The movie is based on the 1920's novella Dream Storyand Kubrick developed the project for decades, and once considered a slightly more comedic take with Steve Martin in the lead role. This is what I just recently noticed. But it meant a lot to Kubrick that his other films did not. Does Alices desire to elope with another man not count as cheating? It seems that Bill always repeats any question asked of him and repeats back any information given to him. Nonetheless, Eyes Wide Shut is a very symbolic and metaphorical film. Once the cat was out of the bag, the thought of his wife fantasizing about another man sent himspiraling into the chaos of doubt. A trivium was a crossroads where three highways met. The most obvious answer is Alice found the mask and left it out as a way to let Bill know she knew something was going on. Everyone walking around in masks only to stand and watch others have sex? To make matters even worse, theres this concept known as. The entire scene is ripe with allusion and ambiguity. As a result, various elements, including Alices dreams, the cryptic cult, and Bills part in it all, motivate and explain Bills adventure. It's interesting indeed. However, their calling him gay may have encouraged him even more so to have an affair as being called gay was a likely blow to his manhood and to heighten his sense of self-deprecation and self-consciousness because Bill is heartbroken of his wife's adulterous feelings. At this level, Alices divulgence appears deliberative in order to arouse an emotional convergence with Bill. Throughout his career, Stanley Kubrick notoriously disliked shooting. Like much of the director's work like The Shining, movie fans love to debate the symbolism and meaning of Eyes Wide Shut. Eyes Wide Shut does not begin like it's a disturbing movie. Stacey is a talented freelance writer passionate about all things pop culture. This creates another question, what would be the consequences of Alices elopement with the naval officer? A Manhattan doctor embarks on a bizarre, night-long odyssey after his wife's admission of unfulfilled longing. This is one of the questions thatEyes Wide Shutasks quite boldly. It is about the eternal back-and-forth between the male and female principles in a confused and decadent modern world. Eyes Wide Shut. Where To Watch? Movie Released on July 16 #19. Kubrik leaves a hint at the identity of the secret society: Kidman's "one eye" is a symbol frequently used by Freemasons. All about Eyes Wide Shut Ritual Scene. 'Red Cloak' also strolls in circles on a square red carpet and he twirls an incense ball in circles and he hits the floor twice with his staff rod to give commands. - Nicole Kidman; Alice in Eyes Wide Shut . While the final movie was greeted with somewhat mixed reviews at the time, the appreciation for Eyes Wide Shut has only grown since its 1999 debut. The couple decides to go through life with their glasses blurred, as knowledge only brings despair. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. | To make matters even worse, theres this concept known asthe paradox of choice. With the images of his wifes infidelity in his mind, Bill learns that his patients engaged daughter is madly in love with him. Who was the masked woman? Edit, Bill is under the impression that the woman who took an overdose in the bathroom at Victor Zeigler's party is the same woman who 'redeemed' him at the masked ball and is also the same woman whom he read about in the newspaper and whose corpse he visited at the morgue. With the images of his wifes infidelity in his mind, Bill learns that his patients engaged daughter is madly in love with him. For this reason, Bill is taken aback by Alices Pandoranian unboxing before being called to the home of a recently deceased patient. Cruise and Kidman were married, and Tom had left the church temporarily (from 1992-2000), because Nicole would . But I personally prefer the dream theory, which is what the original book Traumnovelle, "Dream Story" in english, tend to expose. On the garden of Eden, Noah, Dionysus, and the naval officer. ), The Pale Blue Eye: Ending Explained (Who Is The Killer? Full Metal Jacket is on top.The Shining: A poster for the original theatrical release of the The Shining is the subject of a solo shot for several seconds before Bill enters the nightclub where he meets Nick Nightingale. Carnival and the flood. There is another theory that it may be Sandor Szavost with a mistress.However, it essentially doesn't really matter who the couple are; what is important is that they have spotted Bill. Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut celebrated its 15th anniversary this week.