The Ending of About Time: A Comprehensive Explanation

Highlights

About Time offers a unique interpretation of time-travel, focusing on reliving and altering past moments rather than traveling to the future.

The movie delves into the restrictions of time-travel as Tim's family is restricted to revisiting moments they have personally encountered.

The conclusion of About Time is touching and heartfelt as Tim opts to embrace the present and value his everyday life, despite the challenges and sorrow.

About Time, directed by Richard Curtis, presents a unique take on time-travel tropes. The film revolves around Tim (played by Domhnall Gleeson), who discovers on his 21st birthday that the men in his family possess the ability to travel back in time and modify previously lived moments. The outstanding cast of About Time, including Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, and Margot Robbie, deliver remarkable performances. With a blend of romance, humor, and heartbreak, About Time is a cinematic treat for any science fiction enthusiast.

Since its premiere in 2013, About Time has been recognized as a heartwarming masterpiece. While the film primarily showcases the advantages of time-travel, it also delves into its inherent limitations. For instance, Tim's family lacks the ability to travel to the future and can only revisit moments from their own lifetimes. As Tim's father (played by Bill Nighy) eloquently puts it:

I can only visit locations that I have personally experienced and can recall. I am unable to alter historical events such as eliminating Hitler's existence. About Time's achievement primarily lies in its portrayal of time travel, but the film has also garnered praise for its depiction of ordinary life. This theme is beautifully captured in About Time's moving conclusion.

What Is About Time About?

On Tim's 21st birthday, his father reveals to him the family's secret ability to travel through time. This is accomplished by entering a dark space, often a cupboard, and concentrating on the desired moment from the past. Initially skeptical, Tim soon realizes this is not a joke.

In contrast to typical time-travel narratives, Tim's father uses this ability for rather mundane reasons. When Tim asks about his father's experiences with time travel, he explains that:

I am a big fan of books, constantly immersing myself in them. I have devoured an extensive range of literature, reading everything a person could possibly desire, even going through it all twice.

When the idea of traveling back in time to acquire wealth is proposed by Tim, his father promptly discourages him. Tim's dad reveals that his own father had attempted this, but it ended up disastrously affecting his life. Instead, Tim's father advises him to use this ability "to shape your life according to your true desires." In response, Tim confidently states that he intends to use his time-traveling powers in the pursuit of finding a girlfriend.

In the movie, About Time, the juxtaposition of time-travel and daily challenges is skillfully portrayed. Despite Tim being bestowed with the extraordinary ability to journey through time, his romantic journey is marred by various letdowns. Tim soon realizes that, no matter how much he manipulates time, he cannot force someone to love him.

However, he soon encounters Mary (played by Rachel McAdams), an American employed at a publishing company. Tim swiftly falls in love with Mary, but despite his extraordinary capability to travel through time, their relationship experiences numerous ups and downs. In addition to the abundance of humor, About Time delves into the more poignant aspects of life, ultimately leading to the movie's emotionally charged conclusion.

How Does About Time End?

As the movie nears its conclusion, Tim makes a heartbreaking discovery about his father’s health: he has been given the devastating diagnosis of terminal lung cancer. This news hits the family hard, leaving them in a state of deep grief. Unfortunately, Tim’s father passes away, but Tim finds solace in a unique ability that allows him to time travel and visit his departed father. However, this newfound source of comfort faces a threat when Mary discloses her desire to have a third child.

In the earlier part of the movie, Tim tries to go back in time to prevent his sister, Lydia Wilson, from getting in a car accident. Although he succeeds in avoiding the accident, Tim is surprised to find out that his daughter, Posy, has never been born when he returns to the present. Instead, Tim now has a son and Posy no longer exists. When Tim asks his father how this happened, his father explains that it is not possible to change events before a child's birth, or else the child will turn out differently. This rule presents Tim with a difficult choice - having another child or saying goodbye to his dad forever. After careful consideration, Tim decides to have a third child with Mary, choosing to embrace his present life rather than dwelling on the past. In a heartfelt moment, Tim goes back in time to bid his father a final farewell before the birth of his third child. During their emotional goodbye, Tim asks his father if there is anything he would like to do, and his dad responds, "Just a quick little walk."

Traveling back in time, Tim and his father find themselves in one of Tim's cherished childhood memories, strolling along the beach. Tim's father admits that this act goes against the rules, but they are cautious not to disrupt anything. Transported to his younger years, Tim and his father savor their final moments together, creating a deeply poignant experience. This climactic scene leaves a lasting impression, ensuring that the ending of About Time is both memorable and emotionally gripping.

The focus then shifts to Tim's present-day life, where his family grapples with the aftermath of his father's passing. In a moving moment, Tim shares his newfound approach to embracing life to its fullest. While his father used to revisit the past to relive each day, Tim reveals that he has taken a step further. He explains that:

“I no longer go back in time, not even for a day. Now, I strive to live each day as if I have purposely returned to this moment. To savor it. Just like it's the very last day of my extraordinary, yet ordinary, life."

In the final moments of the movie, it is revealed that Tim has ceased his time travel and instead, he is discovering the value of cherishing the present. It becomes evident that Tim has mastered the art of seizing the beauty in his everyday existence, as he shares with the audience: "The only thing we can do is give our best, and revel in this remarkable journey." The movie then presents a montage of people embracing their ordinary lives, showcasing Tim's newfound appreciation for the simple joys of everyday existence.

The ending of About Time, a movie about time travel, is intriguing as its central character decides to retire from his time-traveling adventures. However, this conclusion truly encapsulates the essence of the film. About Time beautifully portrays a genuine appreciation for life and emphasizes the significance of recognizing the beauty within an ordinary existence, regardless of the challenges we face.