Before I Fall (2017) Ending Explained
tl;dr:
Before I Fall follows Samantha Kingston, a popular high school student who relives the last day of her life repeatedly after dying in a car crash. Through each repetition, she uncovers deeper truths about herself, her friends, and the consequences of their actions. The film's ending reveals that Samantha must sacrifice herself to save Juliet Sykes, a bullied classmate, breaking the time loop. By preventing Juliet's suicide, Samantha ensures her friends learn empathy, though it costs her own life. The ambiguous final scene suggests Samantha's spirit finds peace, possibly in an afterlife or a new reality.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending:
The ending of Before I Fall is a poignant culmination of Samantha's emotional and moral journey. After reliving February 12th multiple times, she realizes her superficial existence and the cruelty she and her friends perpetuated, particularly toward Juliet Sykes. Each loop forces Samantha to confront her flaws, from her shallow relationships to her complicity in bullying. The breakthrough comes when she understands that her death is intertwined with Juliet's despair. In the final loop, Samantha abandons her attempts to escape fate and instead intervenes to stop Juliet from jumping off a cliff, sacrificing herself in the process. This act of selflessness breaks the cycle, suggesting that her purpose was never to save herself but to redeem others.
The film's ambiguity lies in its final moments. After Samantha's death, the narrative shifts to a surreal, dreamlike sequence where she wakes up in a sunlit forest, symbolizing her transition into an afterlife or a state of peace. The open-ended nature of this scene invites interpretation: Is this heaven, a metaphor for her legacy, or a new reality where her actions altered the timeline? The absence of concrete answers emphasizes the film's themes of impermanence and the ripple effects of choices. Notably, the last shot mirrors the opening scene of the film, but with a lighter tone, implying closure and renewal.
Unresolved Questions and Possible Answers:
1. What is the nature of the time loop?
- Supernatural intervention: A higher power or cosmic force designed the loop to teach Samantha a lesson.
- Psychological purgatory: Samantha's subconscious created the loop to process her guilt before dying.
2. Does Juliet survive in the end?
- Yes: Samantha's sacrifice ensures Juliet lives, as hinted by the altered final day.
- Unclear: The focus is on Samantha's redemption, not Juliet's future.
3. What happens to Samantha's friends after her death?
- They change: Her death serves as a wake-up call, breaking their cycle of cruelty.
- They remain unchanged: The film leaves their growth open to interpretation.
Personal Opinion:
Before I Fall delivers a powerful message about empathy and the weight of our actions, though its execution leans heavily on teen-drama tropes. The ending is emotionally resonant but may feel overly sacrificial to some viewers. Samantha's arc-from narcissism to self-awareness-is compelling, yet the film could have explored Juliet's perspective more deeply. The ambiguous finale works in its favor, leaving room for reflection. While not groundbreaking, it's a thought-provoking take on the "live-die-repeat" narrative, elevated by Zoey Deutch's performance. The moral clarity of the ending-that kindness can be a legacy-makes it memorable despite its flaws.
Final Thoughts:
The film's strength lies in its emotional honesty and willingness to grapple with difficult themes. Samantha's journey from a mean girl to a martyr is both tragic and uplifting, underscoring the idea that redemption often requires sacrifice. The ending, while bittersweet, offers a sense of hope-not for Samantha's survival, but for the lasting impact of her choices. It's a reminder that even small acts of compassion can echo beyond our lifetimes. Whether interpreted as a supernatural tale or a metaphorical character study, Before I Fall leaves a lingering impression about the value of a single day and the power of change.