Million dollar babyone of Clint Eastwood’s greatest films
In 2004 it was titled the twenty-fifth film directed by Clint Eastwood Million dollar baby. This film about boxing, with an unforgettable performance by Hilary Swank as an ultra-determined young boxer, Maggie, who participates with the help of her trainer Frankie (Clint Eastwood) in the women’s world boxing championship. Million dollar baby is a sports drama with multiple themes. The themes of success at all costs and personal fulfillment, but also those of disability, death and euthanasia. In fact, Million dollar baby It is also a tragedy, that of an athlete who is the victim of an illegal blow thrown by an opponent and a fall that leaves her quadriplegic.
The film, with a budget of 30 millionreports more than 216 million dollars in global box office receipts. A great commercial success, but it is also a great critical success. The press is unanimous and enthusiastic. Million dollar baby win four Oscars in 2005 : best film, best director for Clint Eastwood, best actress for Hilary Swank and best supporting actor for Morgan Freeman.
The Son: how to interpret the ending of the film with Hugh Jackman?
How to understand the ending (and its controversies)?
At the end of Million dollar babyMaggie asks Frankie to kill her. The latter, paralyzed following the illegal blow she received and her fall during the last fight, no longer able to breathe, is totally desperate. She is also disgusted by the attitude of her family. In fact, she only visited him to ensure that her assets would be transferred to them. She eventually explains to Frankie that she got everything she expected out of her life, and so she asks him disconnect the systems that keep her alive.
Frankie explains that he can’t ask her. But how can you refuse the last wish of a person who knows he is condemned and who asks for an end to his suffering? The moral dilemma is overwhelming for Frankie.
After discussing it with his priest, who advises him not to grant Maggie’s request, Frankie sneaks into the hospital one night and injects her with a fatal dose of adrenaline. Just before this injection, he finally explains the meaning of her nickname for him, “Mo Cuishle”: “my treasure and my blood“.
This ending caused controversy in the United States. In 2005, the Disability Rights Education Fund was published a declaration denouncing the idea, according to them conveyed by Million dollar babythat a disabled person didn’t have as much right to life than an able-bodied person. The issue of euthanasia is a hot topic in the United States and Clint Eastwood responded to this controversy by suggesting which was in no way a position statement on the subjectstating in an interview with Los Angeles Times which had”he spent time in movies killing people with a .44 Magnum. But that doesn’t mean I think it’s a good thing to do.”
The mysterious fate of Frankie
Another final element is not clarified, that of Frankie’s fate. In fact, after injecting Maggie with the fatal dose, he disappears. Scrap (Morgan Freeman), who witnessed the scene from the shadows and who is its narrator Million dollar babythen states about Frankie “that he has nothing left“. Frankie does not return to the training room. The last image of him is when he leaves the hospital corridor.
One theory suggests so Frankie may have killed himself too. In fact, the literal translation of the Gaelic term “Mo Cuishle” is “the pulse”. By losing Maggie, she has thus lost her “drive”. Metaphorically, she no longer had a reason to live. Another element that fuels the mystery, and this theory, is that we see him before the euthanasia sequence taking two syringes of adrenaline from his bag, and then using only one. The second was therefore intended for him ? An open ending for the character and emotionally perfect to conclude this touching film.
Source: Cine Serie
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