Cabaret (1972) Ending Explained
tl;dr: Cabaret (1972) ends on a haunting note as the Kit Kat Club, a microcosm of Weimar Germany's decadence, continues its performances amid the rising Nazi threat. Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli) chooses to remain in Berlin, rejecting love and safety for her fleeting cabaret life, while the Emcee (Joel Grey) delivers a chilling final number, "Tomorrow Belongs to Me," revealing Nazi sympathizers in the audience. The film closes with a distorted mirror reflection, symbolizing Germany's moral decay and the inevitable horror of fascism. The ending is bleak, emphasizing the characters' willful ignorance of the impending catastrophe.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The finale of Cabaret is a masterclass in dramatic irony and foreshadowing. As the film progresses, the hedonistic world of the Kit Kat Club contrasts sharply with the growing Nazi presence outside. In the final scene, Sally Bowles, after aborting her unborn child and ending her relationship with Brian (Michael York), returns to the club, embracing her self-destructive lifestyle. Meanwhile, the Emcee, who has served as a grotesque commentator throughout the film, performs a reprise of "Willkommen" before transitioning into "Tomorrow Belongs to Me"—a song previously associated with Nazi ideology. The camera pans to reveal audience members wearing Nazi armbands, a shocking revelation that underscores the club's complicity in Germany's descent into fascism.
The distorted mirror shot in the final moments serves as a metaphor for the fractured reality of pre-war Germany. The characters, particularly Sally, have chosen to ignore the political upheaval around them, clinging to their illusions of freedom and pleasure. The Emcee's grin as he closes the show suggests a sinister acceptance of the coming regime, reinforcing the film's central theme: the dangers of apathy in the face of tyranny. The club, once a sanctuary for outsiders, is now infiltrated by the very forces that will destroy it, making the ending a tragic commentary on the cost of denial.
Unresolved Questions
Does Sally ever realize the consequences of her choices?
- The film implies she does not-her final performance suggests she remains trapped in her delusions.
- Alternatively, her decision to stay may signify a subconscious surrender to the coming darkness.
What happens to the Kit Kat Club after the Nazis rise to power?
- Historically, cabarets were shut down or co-opted by the regime; the club's fate is likely grim.
- The Emcee's compliance hints that some performers may have collaborated to survive.
Is Brian's departure a moral victory or a failure?
- He escapes the coming horror, suggesting self-preservation over bravery.
- His love for Sally was genuine, but his inability to save her reflects the limits of individual resistance.
Personal Opinion on the Ending & Film
Cabaret's ending is one of the most powerful in cinema, precisely because it refuses catharsis. Unlike traditional musicals, which resolve in joy or redemption, this film leaves its characters-and audience-in uneasy limbo. The brilliance lies in how director Bob Fosse uses the cabaret's escapism to mirror societal complacency. Liza Minnelli's Sally is tragic not because she's villainous, but because she's so human in her flaws: she prioritizes immediate gratification over survival. Joel Grey's Emcee, meanwhile, is the ultimate unreliable narrator, his cheerful veneer masking complicity. The film's message-that entertainment can be both a distraction and an accomplice to evil-feels uncomfortably relevant today.
Cabaret is not just a period piece but a timeless warning. Its ending doesn't offer closure because history didn't either. The Nazis didn't rise overnight; they were enabled by those who looked away. By denying the audience a happy ending, Fosse forces us to confront our own capacity for willful ignorance. The film's genius is in making escapism feel horrifying-because sometimes, the party doesn't end with a bang, but with a slow, sinister fade to black.