The Mind-Bending Twist of Anomalisa's Ending Unveiled

Highlights

Charlie Kaufman's film Anomalisa leaves room for multiple interpretations about what actually happened during the protagonist Michael's brief encounter with Lisa.

In the ending of Anomalisa, it is implied that Michael comes to the realization that he himself is the underlying issue, yet he continues to experience a sense of isolation and inability to form meaningful connections with those around him.

Another viewpoint puts forth the idea that Lisa might not actually exist, and their meeting might have solely taken place within Michael's own mind.

Charlie Kaufman's films often leave viewers with more questions than answers, contemplating themes of life, identity, and time. Anomalisa, the adult stop-motion feature from 2015, follows suit in this regard. However, unlike some of Kaufman's other works, this film takes a simpler and more straightforward narrative approach, focusing on a character study. The protagonist, Michael, struggles to form connections with those around him, and while the ending suggests this may be true, it also leaves room for various interpretations about the events that occurred during his time with Lisa.

While mainstream Hollywood tends to highlight actors and directors, Charlie Kaufman has made a household name for himself as a writer. With notable works like Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Adaptation, Kaufman has established himself as a renowned figure in the industry. Anomalisa, which he co-directed with Duke Johnson, is only his second film as a director. However, it exemplifies Kaufman's strengths of presenting a world that is both familiar and distinctively odd. Though the ending of Anomalisa may initially seem straightforward, Kaufman's signature style ensures that there is much more depth to be discovered.

What Is Anomalisa About?

Anomalisa tells the story of Michael Stone (David Thewlis), a successful motivational speaker who is struggling with deep depression. Despite his ability to help others, he finds that life has become monotonous and uninteresting. To him, everyone, including his own wife and son, appears the same. Desperate for a meaningful connection, Michael travels to Cincinnati to deliver a conference about his latest book.

During his trip, Michael attempts to reconnect with a former flame, but she rejects him. Disappointed, he enters a store to purchase a gift for his son, only to discover that it is actually an adult toy store. Intrigued by an antique animatronic doll, he decides to buy it due to its uniqueness.

Back in his hotel room, Michael hears a captivating female voice for the first time. Intrigued, he frantically searches for the source and finds Lisa (Jennifer Jason Leigh), an insecure woman attending the convention with low self-esteem. Michael perceives her as different from everyone else simply because he craves companionship. They share a meal and he invites her to his room, where he asks her to sing. Enthralled by her distinct voice, Michael requests a rendition of Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." Lisa refers to herself as an anomaly, and Michael affectionately gives her the nickname "Anomalisa." They engage in sexual intimacy, and afterwards, Michael drifts off to sleep.

How Does Anomalisa End?

In this terrifying nightmare, both Michael and the viewers are presented with the unsettling truth behind the lines etched on every character's face – they resemble the outlines of masks. As Michael's own mask slips off, he realizes the disconcerting fact that there is nothing beneath it, serving as a painful reminder that perhaps he is the one grappling with emptiness and inner turmoil, not others. Amidst his personal revelation, those around him relentlessly strive to hinder his connection with Lisa, vehemently asserting their belief that they should not be together.

The next morning, Michael awakens with a renewed sense of purpose stemming from his dream. Over breakfast, he musters the courage to propose starting a new chapter together to Lisa. However, as he scrutinizes her flaws that had previously eluded him, his irritation grows. In a surreal twist, Lisa's face and voice gradually morph into a generic, indistinguishable persona right before his eyes. Despite this, Michael perseveres and delivers a poignant speech at the conference, openly confessing his own struggle to perceive others as unique beings with their own distinct emotions—a message that resonates deeply within him.

When he arrives home, his family and friends are awaiting his return, yet they remain unchanged in his eyes, and he struggles to recognize any of them. The film concludes with Michael briefly stepping away, finding solace in solitude as he gazes at the doll he had acquired, while the others engage in socializing in the adjacent room. Lisa bids him farewell through a heartfelt letter, expressing gratitude for the time they shared.

This conclusion possesses an enigmatic quality, allowing for divergent interpretations. It suggests that Michael, at last, acknowledges that he himself is the underlying issue, but finds no alteration in his circumstances. He continues to feel isolated, incapable of forming meaningful connections, partly due to his apathy towards others. Throughout the film, Michael's interactions imply a lack of recognition for others as individuals. It could be argued that he even views Lisa not as a person, but rather as an escape from his own troubles. In the movie, "Synecdoche, New York," Charlie Kaufman puts forth the notion that every individual holds importance and assumes the leading role in their own narrative. However, in "Anomalisa," Kaufman takes this concept to absurd levels, positing that if everyone is equally significant, then no one truly holds significance.

The film suggests that Lisa may not be real, but rather a doll that Michael purchased, with their encounter happening solely in his imagination. There are subtle coincidences throughout the story that support this idea, such as Michael hearing Lisa's voice immediately after getting the doll and the scar on her face matching a crack on the doll. Additionally, both Lisa and the doll can sing, and Lisa can even speak Japanese. When Michael returns home, he discovers that the doll had been used. The end credits song, "None Of Them Are You," hints at the concept of meeting someone unreal in a dream. Despite this evidence, there is one scene that strongly implies Lisa's existence as a real person. In this scene, Lisa writes Michael a letter as she drives away with her friend Emily, who now looks unique and distinct. This moment, shown from Lisa's perspective, suggests that she is indeed real. However, it could also be Michael hallucinating and finding a glimmer of hope. Ultimately, Anomalisa allows for multiple interpretations and lets viewers decide their own truth.

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