Pretty Baby (1978) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
"Pretty Baby" (1978), directed by Louis Malle, is a controversial film set in early 20th-century New Orleans that follows Violet (Brooke Shields), a 12-year-old girl raised in a brothel. The ending sees Violet sold into marriage to a wealthy photographer, Bellocq (Keith Carradine), only for her mother, Hattie (Susan Sarandon), to later reclaim her and take her away to a conventional life. The film concludes ambiguously, leaving Violet's future uncertain as she transitions from the decadent but oppressive world of the brothel to an unknown, presumably more "respectable" existence. The ending raises questions about agency, exploitation, and the cost of societal norms.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The final act of Pretty Baby revolves around Violet's forced marriage to Bellocq, a patron of the brothel who becomes obsessed with her. After her mother, Hattie, leaves the brothel to marry a client and pursue a traditional life, Violet is auctioned off to Bellocq in a symbolic and disturbing ceremony. Their relationship is complex - Bellocq is both a protector and a predator, offering Violet stability but also perpetuating her exploitation. The marriage is short-lived, however, as Hattie returns and demands Violet be returned to her, invoking the law to dissolve the union. In the final scene, Violet is seen leaving the brothel with Hattie, dressed in conservative clothing, symbolizing her abrupt transition from a world of overt exploitation to one of concealed societal constraints.
The ending is deliberately ambiguous, resisting a clear resolution. Violet's expression as she leaves suggests a mix of resignation and curiosity-she is being "saved" from the brothel, but at what cost? The film implies that her new life, while more socially acceptable, may not necessarily be happier or freer. The brothel, for all its moral corruption, was the only home Violet knew, and her relationships there, however problematic, were genuine in their own way. By contrast, her future with Hattie is uncharted, and the film leaves open whether she will adapt or rebel against the rigid expectations of "proper" society.
Unresolved Questions & Possible Answers
What happens to Violet after leaving the brothel?
- Possibility 1: She struggles to adapt to conventional life, resenting her mother's intervention.
- Possibility 2: She eventually embraces respectability but remains haunted by her past.
- Possibility 3: She rebels and returns to a life of defiance, rejecting societal norms.
Does Bellocq truly care for Violet, or is he just another exploiter?
- Possibility 1: His affection is genuine but tainted by his own moral blindness.
- Possibility 2: He sees her as an object of fascination, not a person.
Is Hattie's decision to take Violet away truly for her benefit?
- Possibility 1: Hattie believes she's saving Violet but fails to consider her daughter's desires.
- Possibility 2: Hattie is motivated by guilt and societal pressure rather than true maternal concern.
Personal Opinion on the Ending & Film
Pretty Baby is a deeply unsettling film, not just for its subject matter but for its refusal to offer easy answers. The ending is haunting because it denies the audience catharsis - Violet's "rescue" feels just as morally ambiguous as her life in the brothel. The film forces viewers to confront uncomfortable questions about agency, exploitation, and the hypocrisy of societal norms. While some criticize the film for its portrayal of underage sexuality, I believe its power lies in its unflinching gaze at a world where morality is never black and white. The ending is masterful in its ambiguity, leaving us to wonder whether Violet has truly been saved or simply traded one form of confinement for another.
Final Thoughts
Louis Malle's Pretty Baby remains controversial decades later, and its ending is a key reason why. By refusing to neatly resolve Violet's fate, the film lingers in the mind, provoking debate long after the credits roll. It's a challenging, thought-provoking work that doesn't offer comfort-only difficult questions about power, innocence, and the price of so-called redemption. Whether one sees the ending as hopeful or bleak depends largely on how much faith one has in the possibility of true escape from systemic oppression. Either way, it's a conclusion that demands reflection.