Kubrick's 2001 ending explained after 50 years
A 1980 interview with Stanley Kubrick, recently resurfaced, finally clarifies the ambiguous ending of '2001: A Space Odyssey'. Kubrick told journalist Jun'ichi Yaoi that the protagonist is abducted by divine, formless energy beings, placed in a neoclassical 'human zoo' for study, lives out his life there without sense of time, and is eventually returned to Earth as a 'super-being'. The director had long avoided explaining the ending, fearing spoken ideas might sound foolish. The film premiered in spring 1968.
Key facts
- Stanley Kubrick explained the ending of '2001: A Space Odyssey' in a 1980 interview.
- The interview was with journalist Jun'ichi Yaoi for an unfinished documentary.
- Kubrick said the protagonist is abducted by divine energy beings.
- The protagonist is placed in a neoclassical 'human zoo' for study.
- He lives his entire life in that room without sense of time.
- He is eventually returned to Earth as a 'super-being'.
- Kubrick had long avoided explaining the ending.
- The film premiered in spring 1968.
Entities
Artists
- Stanley Kubrick