The Beginning of the End
How did the process of telling this story begin?
COLLIDER: This film has been a long time coming.
At the same time, I’m a political filmmaker.
Image by Jefferson Chacon
I thinkThe Endhas these two allegorical layers that are superimposed.
I’ve always been interested in the end of life.
He was also buying a bunker for his family.
Image via Neon
They invited me along to film their house hunting for this bunker.
How would you raise a new generation in this place if it came to that?
Similarly,The Look of Silenceworks with the ocular technicians trade.
Image via TIFF
You have a child who’s born and who’s fated to end up alone.
To that point, I generally think a lot of people misunderstand the implications of ending of your film.
But of course, even a cursory thought as to what happens next is a bit dire.
Image via Dogwoof Pictures
I mean, a lot of people say a lot of nonsense.
OPPENHEIMER: Well, Errol Morris was one who said that, and thats not inconsequential.
Thats of course a doubling down on the lies.
The End is a contemplative drama exploring the intertwining lives of strangers during the final moments before a cataclysmic event. As each character reflects on their life choices and relationships, the film examines themes of regret, acceptance, and the delicate nature of human connections in the face of impending change.
As they continue on the path, I think youll see a child who’s also unhappy.
You see Mother who’s plunged into a kind of abyss of guilt.
But for me, the ending is despairing.
This is a family that is just simply descended further a couple circles of hell from where they began.
They’ve terrorized her into silence.
I grew up in a family where there was divorce.
My father’s narrative and my mother’s narrative, of course, had to contradict each other.
For a while I lost myself.
Whereas in fiction, I can initiate exactly where the turning point of the scene is going to be.
They find truths that I instantly recognize as authentic because they’re not what I expected.
The star-studded ensemble film premieres on December 6.
The character who’s a cynic, the doctor, doesn’t have music.
I mean, he doesn’t sing at all.
If it was the end of the world, what music would you want to listen to?
What films would you bring to last the rest of your life?
OPPENHEIMER: I simply have to say I wouldn’t want to be in that bunker.
But if I hurled myself into that abyss?
But I sure would hope to not ever be in that bunker.
And as somebody who would always surround myself with stuff that you create.
OPPENHEIMER: Thanks so much.
The Endis in select theaters on December 6.
