Bliss ending explained Is Isabel real in the movie Bliss?
by Subhashree M | Updated Mar 09, 2023
Bliss Wiki
Mike Cahill's 2021 drama film "Bliss" features Owen Wilson and Salma Hayek in the lead roles. The story revolves around a recently divorced middle-aged man played by Wilson, who is going through a tough time after being fired from his unhappy job. He befriends a homeless woman, played by Hayek, and starts to sink into a world that seems like drug addiction, while struggling to differentiate between reality and fantasy. The film leaves the viewer wondering whether he is living in a multilayered simulation or is experiencing drug-induced psychosis. The film begins by portraying Wilson's character as a lost and confused divorced dreamer who maintains a strained relationship with his adult children. As the story progresses, it transforms into an emotionally charged psychological narrative that keeps the audience engaged with the characters and forces them to determine what is "real" and what could be a simulated reality. "Bliss" was released on Amazon Prime Video on February 5, 2021. Although it received negative reviews from critics who unfavorably compared it to "The Matrix," it remains a thought-provoking film that explores the blurry lines between reality and fantasy.
Bliss ending explained
Initially, Greg disregards Isabel's claim that the world is a virtual simulation. However, he eventually discovers some clues that lead him to believe her. To escape from the computer-generated world, they need to take blue crystals, but there's only enough for one person. After much argument, it is decided that Isabel will take the final dose and Greg will reunite with her in the real world one day. Greg then enters rehab, where he chronicles his journey through addiction. From his narrative, it becomes clear that the simulated world was simply a product of his drug-induced fantasies, and the blue and yellow crystals were types of drugs. In the concluding scene, Greg reunites with his daughter, Emily, and holds her, indicating that he is indeed overcoming his addiction to drugs.
Bliss movie explained
Be warned that the conclusion of Bliss is currently under discussion, and we will be exploring it in depth. Spoilers will be revealed, and we will delve deep into the story. By the time the conclusion of Bliss is reached, there is a mind-boggling mystery that confronts Owen Wilson and Salma Hayek. The audience is presented with two realities that are both equally plausible, and they are left to decide which is the "real" world and which is a simulated one. This is no easy task, as the movie initially feels like an incomplete puzzle that is missing key pieces. However, Bliss does provide enough clues to make an educated guess about what is happening and which of the dual realities is dominant. By analyzing not only the conclusion but also the hints that are scattered throughout the film, certain concepts come to light. We can begin to see where Bliss is heading, which is what we are going to discuss next. This is your final warning, as we are about to delve into the events of the final act of Bliss.
Is Isabel real in the movie Bliss?
In the movie "Bliss," Isabel's reality is called into question, leaving the audience to wonder if she is a real person or simply a computer-generated character. Throughout the film, the main character Greg is seen struggling with addiction and is unsure of what is real and what is not. Isabel is introduced as a woman who claims to come from a utopian world called "Bliss," where everything is perfect and there is no pain or suffering.As the film progresses, Isabel begins to provide evidence to support her claim that the world is a simulation, leading Greg to question his own reality.
However, there are also moments where Isabel's behavior seems inconsistent and even strange, leaving the audience wondering if she is actually a computer-generated character designed to manipulate Greg's perception of reality.Ultimately, the film leaves the question of Isabel's reality open-ended, with the audience left to decide for themselves whether she is a real person or not. However, the film does suggest that what matters most is not whether Isabel is real, but rather the emotional connection and experiences that Greg and Isabel share, regardless of whether they occur in a simulated or real world.
Bliss plot summary
During his work hours, Greg Wittle often daydreams and sketches. One day, he forgets his wallet on his desk and experiences a glitch with it when called to his boss's office. Greg soon realizes that his medication cannot be refilled without a prescription. After he is fired from his job, he accidentally kills his boss and hides the body. Later, at a bar across the street, he meets Isabel who seems to know about what he has done. Isabel claims to have created the world they live in and offers to help him in exchange for a favor. She even makes Greg's boss's death look like a suicide using telekinesis.
As they leave the bar, they repeatedly encounter a walking woman out of nowhere. Isabel sells Greg's cell phone and takes him to a tented area where she teaches him how to use telekinesis with yellow crystals. After an altercation at a roller rink, Greg finds himself in the back of a police car, and his daughter Emily searches for him. Meanwhile, Isabel gets more crystals while Emily spots Greg on the street and tries to rescue him. She gives him her phone number but he wakes up in Isabel's tent and finds her gone. Greg discovers Emily's phone number and calls her, but Isabel returns and expresses her belief that Emily is not real. Isabel decides to prove to Greg what reality is and plans to use blue crystals to escape the "false" world together.
Greg Wittle spends most of his work hours daydreaming and drawing until he gets fired from his job. He accidentally kills his boss and conceals the body, but a mysterious woman named Isabel offers to help him if he does her a favor. Isabel teaches Greg how to manipulate the world telekinetically with yellow crystals. They end up snorting blue crystals that lead them to wake up attached to a giant computer along with others in a simulation created by Isabel to study alternate realities. Isabel reveals they are a couple in this world and takes Greg home, but he still has vivid memories of the simulation. Isabel decides they need to go back into the simulation and take more blue crystals to fully exit it. However, they face danger when Isabel commits a murder in the process and the police are on their tail. Isabel finds that there are only enough crystals for one of them to leave, and Greg insists Isabel goes back alone. Isabel distracts the police for Greg to escape to a rehab clinic. In the end, Greg reconnects with his daughter Emily.
Bliss ending explained - FAQs
The ending of Bliss reveals that the "real" world that Greg believed he was in was actually a simulated reality created by Isabel. Greg eventually realizes this and decides to stay in the simulation with Isabel, rather than leave with his daughter Emily to the "real" world.
Yes, Greg accidentally killed his boss and Isabel helped him cover up the crime by making it look like a suicide.
Greg ultimately decided to stay in the simulation because he preferred the alternate reality where he was with Isabel, rather than the real world where he was alone and unhappy.