Soulmate (2023) Ending Explained
tl;dr: Soulmate (2016) is a Chinese romantic drama that explores the lifelong friendship between two women, Qiyue and Ansheng, whose bond is tested by love, betrayal, and personal growth. The ending reveals that Qiyue's death was the catalyst for Ansheng to finally live authentically, as she adopts Qiyue's daughter and fulfills her friend's unspoken wishes. The film concludes with Ansheng embracing her true self, symbolizing the enduring impact of their deep, complicated relationship. The unresolved questions revolve around the nature of their love, the sacrifices they made, and whether their choices were ultimately worth it.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending:
The ending of Soulmate is a poignant culmination of the decades-long friendship between Qiyue and Ansheng, two women whose lives are inextricably linked yet fundamentally divergent. The film's final act reveals that Qiyue, who lived a seemingly conventional life as a wife and mother, secretly envied Ansheng's free-spirited existence. On her deathbed, Qiyue asks Ansheng to raise her daughter, Jiaming, a request that forces Ansheng to confront her own fears of commitment and responsibility. This moment is deeply symbolic: Qiyue's death becomes the key to Ansheng's emotional liberation, as she steps into the role of a mother and finally allows herself to experience unconditional love. The closing scenes show Ansheng traveling with Jiaming, mirroring the wanderlust Qiyue once admired in her, suggesting that Ansheng is now living for both of them.
Unresolved Questions and Possible Answers:
1. Did Qiyue and Ansheng truly love the same man, or was their rivalry a manifestation of deeper feelings for each other?
- The film hints at a latent romantic tension between the two women, with their competition over Jia Ming (the male lead) serving as a proxy for their unspoken bond. Their love for each other may have been the most significant relationship in their lives, overshadowing their romantic entanglements.
2. Why did Qiyue wait until her death to reveal her true feelings to Ansheng?
- Qiyue may have feared vulnerability or disrupting the status quo. Her confession posthumously ensures Ansheng cannot reject or question her, leaving her with no choice but to accept Qiyue's final wish.
3. Was Ansheng's nomadic lifestyle a rebellion or an authentic expression of her identity?
- It could be both: her restlessness reflects her inability to settle into societal norms, but it also masks her fear of deep emotional connections, which she finally overcomes by raising Jiaming.
Themes of Sacrifice and Identity:
The ending underscores the film's central themes of sacrifice and self-discovery. Qiyue sacrifices her dreams of freedom for stability, while Ansheng sacrifices her independence to honor her friend's memory. Their intertwined fates suggest that true soulmates shape each other's identities, even in absence. The final shot of Ansheng and Jiaming gazing at the ocean mirrors an earlier scene of Qiyue and Ansheng in their youth, implying a cyclical nature to their bond. The ocean, a recurring motif, symbolizes the vast, uncharted emotions between them-love, resentment, and ultimately, reconciliation.
Personal Opinion on the Ending and the Film:
Soulmate is a beautifully melancholic exploration of female friendship, with an ending that resonates long after the credits roll. The conclusion is bittersweet: Ansheng finds purpose through loss, but the cost is Qiyue's life. The film's strength lies in its ambiguity-it refuses to vilify or glorify either woman, instead presenting their choices as flawed but deeply human. However, the pacing in the final act feels rushed, and Qiyue's motivations could have been fleshed out further. Despite this, the emotional payoff is profound, particularly in how it subverts traditional romance narratives to prioritize platonic love. The ending leaves viewers questioning whether the women ever truly understood each other-or if that misunderstanding was the very essence of their connection.
Final Thoughts:
Soulmate's ending is a testament to the complexity of human relationships. It suggests that soulmates are not always romantic partners but can be friends who challenge, hurt, and ultimately redeem one another. The film's lingering questions invite reflection on love's many forms, making it a thought-provoking watch. While it may not provide tidy resolutions, its emotional honesty and stunning cinematography make it a standout in the genre. The ending, though heartbreaking, feels inevitable-a fitting tribute to a bond that transcends life and death.