Vox Lux (2018) Ending Explained
tl;dr
Vox Lux (2018), directed by Brady Corbet, is a dark, surreal exploration of fame, trauma, and the cyclical nature of violence. The film follows Celeste (played by Natalie Portman and Raffey Cassidy at different ages), a pop star who rises to fame after surviving a school shooting. The ending is ambiguous and symbolic, featuring a climactic concert where Celeste performs her hit song "Wrapped Up" while a terrorist attack mirrors her childhood trauma. The film concludes with a haunting question about whether art can transcend violence or if it's complicit in it. The finale leaves Celeste's fate uncertain, emphasizing the film's themes of spectacle and despair.
Detailed Explanation of the Ending
The ending of Vox Lux is a culmination of the film's central themes: the intersection of trauma and fame, the performative nature of identity, and the inevitability of violence in modern society. The final act jumps forward in time to Celeste as an adult (Natalie Portman), now a jaded, self-destructive pop icon preparing for a comeback concert. As she performs "Wrapped Up," the film intercuts scenes of a terrorist attack in Europe where assailants wear masks identical to those from Celeste's music videos. This parallel suggests that her art-and celebrity culture at large-may inadvertently inspire violence, creating a feedback loop where trauma begets spectacle and spectacle begets trauma.
The concert itself is shot like a surreal nightmare, with Celeste's performance oscillating between electrifying and grotesque. Her glittering, robotic stage persona contrasts sharply with her offstage breakdowns, highlighting the dissonance between her public and private selves. The film's narrator (Willem Dafoe) ominously notes that Celeste's music "will outlive her," implying that her art has taken on a life of its own, detached from her humanity. The final shot lingers on Celeste's face as the screen cuts to black, leaving her fate ambiguous-whether she collapses, dies, or simply continues the cycle is left unresolved.
Unresolved Questions
What happens to Celeste after the concert?
- She dies from a drug overdose or exhaustion, fulfilling the film's tragic arc.
- She survives but remains trapped in the cycle of fame and self-destruction.
- The concert is a metaphorical death, representing the end of her authenticity.
Are the terrorists inspired by Celeste's imagery?
- Yes, the masks suggest her art has unintended consequences.
- No, it's a coincidence highlighting the universality of violence.
- The connection is symbolic, showing how media commodifies tragedy.
Does Celeste's music have any redemptive power?
- No, it's part of the problem, glamorizing pain.
- Yes, it's her only way to process trauma, even if flawed.
- The film is ambivalent, leaving it open to interpretation.
Personal Opinion on the Ending and Film
Vox Lux's ending is deliberately jarring and open-ended, which fits its critique of celebrity culture and trauma commodification. The film's bleak tone and stylistic excesses (e.g., the abrupt narration, surreal visuals) won't appeal to everyone, but I found its audacity compelling. Portman's unhinged performance captures the grotesquerie of fame, while the ending's ambiguity forces viewers to sit with uncomfortable questions about art's role in society. However, the film's cold, detached approach can feel emotionally alienating, making it more of a provocative thesis than a satisfying narrative. It's a love-it-or-hate-it experience, but undeniably bold.
Final Thoughts
Vox Lux doesn't offer easy answers, and its ending reinforces that ambiguity. By mirroring Celeste's childhood trauma with a new generation's violence, the film suggests history is doomed to repeat itself, with pop culture as both a salve and a symptom. Whether you see the finale as nihilistic or brutally honest depends on your tolerance for grim storytelling. Either way, it's a movie that lingers-much like Celeste's music, haunting long after the screen fades to black.