Golda (2023) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
The ending of Golda (2023), a biographical war drama about Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir during the Yom Kippur War, portrays her grappling with the immense human cost of the conflict and her own legacy. The film concludes with Meir resigning in 1974, burdened by guilt over Israel's unpreparedness and the high casualties, while also highlighting her steely resolve in navigating the crisis. The final scenes emphasize her loneliness and the weight of leadership, leaving viewers to reflect on the complexities of war, responsibility, and the personal toll of political decisions.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending:
The climax of Golda centers on the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War (1973), where Israel, despite ultimately repelling the surprise attacks by Egypt and Syria, suffers devastating losses. The film's ending focuses on Golda Meir's emotional and political reckoning. As the war concludes, Meir is haunted by the thousands of Israeli soldiers killed and the public outcry over the government's failure to anticipate the invasion. The final scenes depict her resignation in 1974, a decision driven by her sense of moral responsibility. The film underscores her isolation-smoking alone in dimly lit rooms, her health deteriorating-symbolizing the crushing burden of leadership during a national trauma.
One of the most poignant moments in the ending is Meir's confrontation with the Agranat Commission, the official inquiry into Israel's military failures. Though the commission exonerates her personally, it condemns the intelligence and defense establishments. Meir, however, refuses to absolve herself, embodying the film's theme of accountability. Her resignation speech is delivered with quiet dignity, acknowledging her mistakes while defending her unwavering commitment to Israel's survival. The closing shots linger on her exhausted face, suggesting that her legacy is inseparable from both her strength and her flaws.
The film also contrasts Meir's public stoicism with private vulnerability. In one of the final scenes, she visits wounded soldiers, her hands trembling as she lights a cigarette-a recurring motif representing her stress and humanity. These intimate moments humanize her, making her resignation feel less like a defeat and more like a tragic inevitability. The director uses tight close-ups and muted colors to emphasize her isolation, reinforcing the idea that leadership, especially in war, is a solitary and unforgiving role. The ending leaves viewers questioning whether any leader could have done better under such circumstances.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers:
1. Did Golda Meir truly believe resignation was the only option?
- Possible Answer: Yes-she saw it as a moral necessity, even if she privately felt she could continue.
- Possible Answer: No-she may have been pressured by political rivals or public opinion.
Could the Yom Kippur War have been prevented?
- Possible Answer: No-historical tensions made conflict inevitable.
- Possible Answer: Yes-better intelligence or diplomacy might have averted the surprise attack.
How did Meir's gender impact her leadership and resignation?
- Possible Answer: It played a role-she faced harsher scrutiny as a woman in a male-dominated field.
- Possible Answer: It was irrelevant-her decisions were judged on their merits, not her gender.
Personal Opinion:
Golda is a powerful character study that avoids glorifying its subject, instead presenting Meir as a deeply human figure. Helen Mirren's performance is mesmerizing, capturing both Meir's iron will and her private despair. The ending is haunting in its restraint, refusing tidy resolutions-a fitting tribute to a leader whose story resists simple moralizing. My only critique is that the film occasionally leans too heavily on atmospheric tension at the expense of deeper historical context. Still, it succeeds in making Meir's resignation feel like a profound moment of reckoning, not just for her but for the nation she served.
Final Thoughts:
The ending of Golda lingers like the smoke from Meir's ever-present cigarettes-a bittersweet reminder of the costs of war and leadership. By focusing on her resignation as an act of integrity rather than failure, the film elevates her story beyond mere biography into a meditation on power and sacrifice. It's a conclusion that invites reflection, not closure, leaving audiences to ponder the weight of decisions made in the fog of war.