The Sense of an Ending (2017) Ending Explained
TL;DR:
The Sense of an Ending (2017) is a psychological drama based on Julian Barnes' novel, exploring memory, regret, and the unreliability of personal narratives. The film follows Tony Webster (Jim Broadbent), a retired man who re-examines his past after receiving an unexpected inheritance from the mother of his ex-girlfriend Veronica (Charlotte Rampling). The ending reveals that Tony's memories were distorted-he had sent a cruel letter to Veronica and her new partner Adrian (Joe Alwyn), contributing to Adrian's suicide. The conclusion forces Tony to confront his self-serving version of history and the consequences of his actions, leaving him with a bittersweet understanding of his life's true narrative.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The film's climax occurs when Tony finally meets Veronica in person after decades of estrangement. She hands him a diary left by Adrian, which Tony had long believed was rightfully his. Through fragmented revelations, Tony learns that his memories of the past were deeply flawed. He had painted himself as the wronged party, but in reality, his vicious letter to Veronica and Adrian-written out of jealousy after their relationship began-played a significant role in Adrian's mental unraveling and eventual suicide. This shatters Tony's carefully constructed self-image, forcing him to acknowledge his own culpability in the tragedy. The diary, which he thought would provide closure, instead becomes a mirror reflecting his own moral failings.
Unresolved Questions and Possible Answers
- Why did Veronica wait so long to reveal the truth to Tony?
- She may have wanted him to live with his ignorance as a form of punishment.
- She might have needed time to come to terms with her own grief and anger.
- What was in Adrian's diary that Tony never got to read?
- It likely contained Adrian's perspective on Tony's letter and his subsequent despair.
- It may have also revealed Veronica's true feelings about both men.
- Did Tony truly change by the end, or did he remain self-deluded?
- His tearful reaction suggests genuine remorse, but his lifelong habit of rewriting history leaves room for doubt.
- The film's ambiguous final shot implies he may still be grappling with the truth.
Themes of Memory and Self-Deception
The ending underscores the film's central theme: memory is subjective and often self-serving. Tony's narrative of his youth painted him as a victim, but the truth reveals he was an active participant in his own unhappiness. This realization forces him (and the audience) to question how much of anyone's past is accurately remembered versus conveniently edited. The film suggests that confronting uncomfortable truths is necessary for growth, even if it comes too late to fix past mistakes. Veronica's role as the keeper of the truth highlights how others may see us more clearly than we see ourselves.
Personal Opinion on the Ending and the Film
The Sense of an Ending is a masterful exploration of regret and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. The ending is devastating because it doesn't offer redemption-just a painful reckoning. Jim Broadbent's performance captures Tony's gradual unraveling with heartbreaking subtlety. However, the film's pacing can feel slow, and some viewers might find Tony's lack of full accountability frustrating. Still, its meditation on aging and memory resonates deeply. The ambiguous final scene - Tony sitting alone, staring at the diary-leaves us wondering whether he'll truly change or simply add this revelation to his repertoire of half-truths. It's a poignant, if unsettling, conclusion to a thought-provoking story.
Final Thoughts
The film's power lies in its refusal to tidy up Tony's life or grant him easy absolution. Like real life, some wounds never fully heal, and some realizations come too late. The title itself—The Sense of an Ending—hints that closure is elusive, and the stories we construct about ourselves are often incomplete or outright false. By the end, Tony is left with the uneasy knowledge that his past was not what he remembered, and his present is forever colored by that understanding. It's a quiet, devastating commentary on the human tendency to reshape reality to fit our needs, even at the cost of truth.