- Date of Release: 09 August 2024
- Genre: Drama, Romance
- Language: English
- Watch On: Theatres Only
It Ends With Us
Introduction
It Ends With Us comes at a time when the social media is in a state of frenzy(and rightly so) over a heinous crime that has been commited in Kolkata. Not only are the events shocking but also infuriating, something that speaks volumes about the safety of women, and the generational patriarch of men, who have been known to ‘argue’ on posts by retorting ‘not all men’. A little introspective will tell you, that you may invariably have been that version of your father whom you wished to protect your mother from, that lover who would harm your partner, physically or psychologically, that roadside romeo who wouldn’t think twice before either eve-teasing or fat-shaming a lady based on her clothes(but what was she wearing?). So yes, ALL MEN, ALL OF US are responsible. The problem though lies much deeper in a country that doesn’t even consider marital r*pe as a crime, almost giving men the freehand to do anything in the name of marriage. It Ends With Us, a film that is a metaphor of ending the generations of resilience in the eyes of the storm could not have timed its release better, even while treating its characters to be non-binary, and allowing the drama to unfold through the gaze of its protagonist who at the start of the film has already been through a lot, often been a silent witness to the torture endured by her mother at the hands of the father, finds herself in a confused state with a man who genuinely loves her but also might be a shadow of her father with its temper. And given its dreamy premise, the film It Ends With Us is unassumingly complex and powerful, while also tapping into a seemingly familiar territory that most women would relate to.
Story & Screenplay
Based on an International Bestseller of the same name, It Ends With Us follows the story of Lily Bloom who falls head over heels for a rather good-looking neurosurgeon Ryle, until she begins to see sides of him that remind her of her childhood trauma with respect to her father. The story here is unassuming given its flowery premise, literally and figuratively, wherein the drama has a breezy tone to it even with minor cracks that run along like an undercurrent. For instance, very early on in the film you are witness to Lily’s turmoiled relationship with her father, something that translates into a blank sheet at his funeral wherein she was tasked to list down 5 ‘good’ qualities about him. Yet, the screenplay here standing at 130 odd minutes is barely a bed of roses for Lily who faces a dilemma about the relationship that she shares with Ryle, and the repercussions that she may have to face, just like her mother.
One of the strongest aspects of the screenplay is the characterization of principal characters. Lily might seem like a happy individual on the outside living in the city of Boston, running her dream business, being best friends with a girl(who happens to be the sister of Ryle, her sweetheart) just so she isn’t lonely in the city. But within her, there is a layer of anxiety that she holds onto, something that is traced to her childhood. So even an accidental meeting with her childhood sweetheart is awkward, wherein there is guilt ridden with the conversations that she shares with him. Ryle on the other hand does love Lily genuinely, so much so that it would be impossible for anyone else to showcase this level of affection towards their partner, so much so that it was love at first sight for him, almost coaxing Lily to be more than ‘good friends’. Yet, another side of his personality reveals his anger issues stemming from his childhood that allow the viewers to empathize with him, and create a similar conflict as that in the mind of Lily with respect to her relationship with him. Atlas, the third wheel of this love story is vital with respect to navigating Lily towards her destination, almost being reflective of the suppressed traumas that she is holding onto in her current relationship, and giving her an outsider’s perspective(much like his name).
The proceedings are breezy while never losing the original tone of the drama. So while the initial premise plays out like a Hallmark movie, the bubbling romance between Lily and Ryle turns centerstage. You do spend enough time with the couple(and their friends and family) to gauge their chemistry, and their genuine love for each other. So even their blemishes, for instance Lily getting slapped by Ryle suddenly would only be passed off as an ‘accident’, both for Lily and the viewers in question. This relationship is symbolic of so many women who would be always willing to give that benefit of doubt to their spouses, despite being subjected to ‘casual’ violence in a hope that their love would eventually overpower the other ‘shortcomings’ of their relationship which is generally not the case. Irrespective, any sort of violence in a relationship(or otherwise) is a deal-breaker, something that Lily, like all women initially, finds it hard to believe. This, even as she is constantly scarred with flashes of her abusive father, physically assaulting her mother or even her then boyfriend, Atlas, who himself was a victim of the strained relationship of his parents. And hence, there was common ground between Lily and Atlas, something that trickled to present day too, much to the dismay of Ryle.
How often there has been a case wherein women opt for a child to divert their attention towards it, that in a way is an escape for the daily bouts of torture that she is subjected to at the hands of her spouse. Even here, it is Lily who dabbles with the idea of holding onto her relationship with Ryle, after she gets to know about her pregnancy. In a moving scene, you see Ryle’s sister and Lily’s best friend comfort her while being firm with the fact that she may never talk to her should Lily accept Ryle back in her life. This one line said a thousand words about things that she would be subjected to as a sister, while holding on to the pain for a longer time. This results in a moving final act that stays true to its title of breaking the generational chain, and starting afresh. The screenplay is really well written while not normalising violence but acting as a mirror for women who remain immune silently to the domestic violence bestowed upon them.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversational but profound with frequent anecdotes of solutions to an abusive relationship along the way. The music and BGM go perfectly with the mood of the drama, almost being a scarred fairytale of the protagonist along the beats of the screenplay. The cinematography comprises of tight frames that represent intimacy, be it in the form of love or violence that beautifully captures the duality of the drama. The editing is good barring the abrupt turn of events in the final 30 minutes that perhaps could have been fleshed out a bit more. Director Justin Baldoni does a wonderful job in providing a bird’s view on a scarring toxic relationship by backing it with solid characters that are complex as opposed to being binary. And his ability to tap into the psyche and the inherent emotions of the protagonist, allowed the viewers to invest in the drama that much more. The direction is really good here.
Performances
The performances are really good by the ensemble cast. Alex Neustaedter as Young Atlas and Isabella Ferrer as Young Lily have a vivacious chemistry that contributes well towards the foundation of the film. Kevin Mckidd as Andrew is almost there often like a shadowy presence, and he manages to create a haunting presence with his character. Amy Norton as Jenny and Hasan Minhaj as Marshall have their moments to shine. Jenny Slate as Alyssa might seem like a distant cousin of Geet from Jab We Met but her outer farce is a compensation for a range of emotions that she holds within herself wherein she does a wonderful job. Brandon Sklenar as Atlas has a charming presence and he does a swell job here. Justin Baldoni as Ryle is terrific in a character who might be a victim of his past with his incessant rage of the present. And this complex nature of the character does create a smoke-screen of dilemma in the minds of the viewers and Lily, something that was expertly played out by him. Blake Lively as Lily is a seemingly complex character that has so many faces to her, all packaged in a single character. She is vulnerable and barely over the scarring presence of her father even as she reluctantly wishes to find love, which she does, until things go south. This roller coaster of emotions is so well represented by her in what was a towering performance of resilience and grit.
Conclusion
It Ends With Us is an unassumingly complex and powerful drama with solid performances that makes for a deeply poignant watch. A word to the men – A little introspective will tell you, that you may invariably have been that version of your father whom you wished to protect your mother from, that lover who would harm your partner, physically or psychologically, that roadside romeo who wouldn’t think twice before either eve-teasing or fat-shaming a lady based on her clothes(but what was she wearing?). Do not argue, just REFLECT, ACCEPT AND REDEEM! Let this chain END WITH US! Available in a theatre near you!
