Scene Analysis: Closing Scene

Question 1

Cinematography:
1. close up of Cobb’s eyes, looking around confused
2. shot rev shot between Cobb and the rest of the group
3. lingering wide shot of Fischer
4. close up shot rev shot of Cobb and border control
5. final shot of the totem spinning

Answer 1

2. mixed reactions from the team, it is unclear whether or not the mission was successful
3. leaves the audience to look for clues as to whether or not the mission was successful
4. adds tension
5. leaves us visually and aurally on a cliffhanger (we don’t hear it fall)

Question 2

Mise en scene:
1. airport is oddly uncluttered despite how many people are there
2. home scene is perfect and cosy

Answer 2

2. the children have been painting (paint brush in glasses), pencils, toy dinosaur etc

Question 3

Sound:
1. minimal dialogue used throughout
2. score by Hans Zimmer

Answer 3

2. beat of the film works in time with the cinematography and editing to create a majestic feeling

Question 4

How is the spectator positioned in this scene?

Answer 4

• Nolan positions spectator to align themselves with Cobb
• reflected further in final shot of the totem
• neither Cobb or the audience see if it falls, leaving the status of the reality an unanswered question

Question 5

How would a passive spectator view the closing scene?

Answer 5

• Cobb returns to his family as redeemed and triumphant
• good guys win, bad guys lose
• Cobb and the team did what had to be done to complete the mission
• the totem spinning is a mystery to never be solved

Question 6

How would an active spectator view the closing scene?

Answer 6

• ambiguity in the meaning of looks shared between the team
• ambiguity of Cobb and Saito meeting in limbo and whether they truly escape
  -whether the totem falls or not is purposely omitted
• everything appears too good to be true in the resolution
• dream equipment is no longer present
• Inception requires the audience to constantly be active during the film, asks us to engage intellectually through narrative development

Question 7

Preferred reading of the closing scene

Answer 7

• Cobb has returned to his children
• whether it’s a dream or not, it’s still fulfilling
• the inception was a success and it was the right thing to do

Question 8

Negotiated reading of the closing scene

Answer 8

• Cobb has returned to his children
• however this is meaningless if the film is a dream/damaging for the children as he has been gone for so long
• the inception was a necessary evil in order for Cobb to return home

Question 9

Oppositional reading of the closing scene

Answer 9

• Cobb’s return is meaningless
• Cobb is a dangerous man who potentially killed his wife by proxy
• the inception was not only damaging for Fischer, but also for the outside world