Babel Ending explained, Babel Summary and Analysis
by A Maria
Updated Mar 06, 2023
Babel
Babel, released in 2006, is a psychological drama film directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and written by Guillermo Arriaga. The film is part of Arriaga's and Iñárritu's Death Trilogy, which also includes Amores perros (2000) and 21 Grams (2003). It is a multi-narrative drama that features an ensemble cast and interwoven stories set in Morocco, Japan, Mexico, and the United States. Babel was produced by companies in the United States, Mexico, and France, and was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, where González Iñárritu won the Best Director Award. The film was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. It opened in selected cities in the United States on October 27, 2006, and went into wide release on November 10, 2006. It won the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama and was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning for Best Original Score and receiving nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress for Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi.
Babel Ending Explained
The film's nonlinear structure intensifies its dramatic weight, with the different plot elements fitting together in devastating ways. For example, when Richard arrives in Casablanca, the audience hears his end of the conversation previously heard from Amelia. Seeing this conversation again after Amelia's tragic fate is revealed is heart-wrenching, as it is followed by the tragedies in Mexico and Amelia's deportation. Director Iñárritu weaves the plot features in a way that emphasizes their interconnectedness.
The film's conclusion is bittersweet and open-ended. The various stories do resolve to some degree - Chieko communicates her vulnerability to her father, Susan returns home, and Amelia is deported - but it is not a happy or clear-cut ending. The interconnectedness of the stories is more atmospheric, allowing the viewer to interpret the connections and accidents as they wish. The conclusion is more of a sorrowful embrace than a triumphant resolution.
Babel summary and analysis
Summary:
Richard visits Susan, who tells him to take care of their kids if she dies, and shares a sad laugh with him. When she needs to pee, Richard puts a pan under her and supports her as she goes. He apologizes for running away when Sammy died, and Susan processes her guilt over the loss. Later, Richard speaks with someone from the embassy who apologizes for the government's lack of acknowledgment regarding the terrorism act. In Tokyo, Detective Mamiya comforts Chieko and receives a note from her before wiping away her tears and leaving. Amelia is questioned by the police, who inform her that she will be deported for working illegally and leaving the kids alone in the desert. In Morocco, Yussef watches as the police carry away Ahmed's body, and a helicopter arrives to transport Susan and Richard to a hospital. In Tokyo, Chieko's father returns home and speaks with Detective Mamiya about the rifle used to shoot Susan and the suicide of Chieko's mother. Mamiya goes to a bar and drinks heavily before reading Chieko's note. On the news, he sees that Susan is returning home from Morocco. In his apartment, Chieko's father finds his daughter nude on the balcony and weeping as she hugs him. The film ends on a bittersweet and ambiguous note.
Analysis:
The final section of the film delves deeper into Richard and Susan's complex relationship. Susan finds herself in a vulnerable position after being injured and has to rely on Richard for help, which hasn't happened since his affair. At this moment, Richard apologizes and confesses that he strayed from their relationship out of fear after losing their infant child. Despite the difficulty of the situation, the trauma they experience ultimately brings them closer together.
The film also explores the negative effects of xenophobia and cultural biases, which are often politicized and contradictory. Richard faces delays in getting help for Susan from the American embassy in Morocco due to the Moroccan government's refusal to acknowledge the shooting as a terrorist act, even though it was an accident. This highlights the harm caused by the politicization of cultural differences. Similarly, the treatment of Amelia's case demonstrates the lack of understanding and empathy towards non-white individuals by the American government.
The nonlinear structure of the film intensifies its emotional impact, as the viewer experiences the devastating consequences of each story. The ending is bittersweet and ambiguous, with the various plot threads somewhat resolved but not tied up neatly. The film's interconnectedness leaves the viewer to interpret the accidents and connections that occur throughout. Ultimately, the film's ending is more mournful than triumphant.
How to Watch Babel?
"Babel" is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Lionsgate Play. It can also be purchased for download on Google Play Movies and YouTube or rented online through these platforms. The film depicts the aftermath of a tragic incident involving an American couple in Morocco, which sets off a series of interconnected events affecting four families in different parts of the world.
About Babel
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
Directed by
Alejandro González Iñárritu
Written by
Guillermo Arriaga
Based on
An idea
by
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography
Rodrigo Prieto
Edited by
Music by
Gustavo Santaolalla
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
Countries
Languages
10 November 2006 (USA)
Babel ending explained - FAQs
Babel is a psychological drama film released in 2006, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and written by Guillermo Arriaga. It is the third installment of Arriaga's and Iñárritu's Death Trilogy, which also includes Amores perros (2000) and 21 Grams (2003). The film features an ensemble cast and interwoven stories set in Morocco, Japan, Mexico, and the United States.
Babel was directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu.
Babel was written by Guillermo Arriaga.
The Death Trilogy is a series of three films directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and written by Guillermo Arriaga. The films are thematically linked by their exploration of death and its impact on characters' lives. The trilogy includes Amores perros (2000), 21 Grams (2003), and Babel (2006).
Babel is set in four countries: Morocco, Japan, Mexico, and the United States.