Almost fifty years ago to the day, a film was screened for invitation-only audiences in specially-equipped Cinerama theaters in select major cities throughout the States. It was a preview of Stanley Kubrick‘s latest endeavor: an adaptation of science-fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
The sheer head-scratching and dumbfounding impact the film has since had on audiences and critics alike was mostly due to its ending, the forward-motioning enigma of an astronaut’s encounter with another dimension, filled with visual effects of immense power. Bewildering is a good word to use in describing the power of that finale, as well as visionary. The concluding half hour, a largely symbolic mind-bender, had our hero, Dave, going through a psychedelic light show, meant to be incomprehensible, as he was transported across enormous oceans of time and space, finally reaching the third monolith of the film. It’s there that he reaches the next stage of human evolution: the Star Child, as seen in the now iconic final shot. It might just be the greatest ending in cinematic history. An ending that still incites debate 50 years later.
READ MORE: Christopher Nolan Talks “Unrestoring” ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ In New Podcast
Kubrick refused to explain the ending, as many creative geniuses are known to do. And given the fact that the filmmaker has passed on for almost two decades, it seemed like we would never really get a proper explanation of the classic finale. However, an old treasure-trove YouTube interview with the director was recently discovered that might put into light what Kubrick was really trying to say.
“Raw footage” shot for an unaired Japanese paranormal TV documentary, which had UFO expert Jun’ichi Yaoi investigating reports of paranormal activity on the set of “The Shining” also included a never-before-seen interview with Kubrick himself, in which the legendary filmmaker seems to be explaining the meaning behind the perplexing end of ‘2001.’
Here is the full quote from Kubrick:
“I’ve tried to avoid doing this ever since the picture came out. When you just say the ideas they sound foolish, whereas if they’re dramatized one feels it, but I’ll try. The idea was supposed to be that he is taken in by god-like entities, creatures of pure energy and intelligence with no shape or form. They put him in what I suppose you could describe as a human zoo to study him, and his whole life passes from that point on in that room. And he has no sense of time. It just seems to happen as it does in the film.”
He continues, “They choose this room, which is a very inaccurate replica of French architecture (deliberately so, inaccurate) because one was suggesting that they had some idea of something that he might think was pretty but wasn’t quite sure. Just as we’re not quite sure what do in zoos with animals to try to give them what they think is their natural environment. Anyway, when they get finished with him, as happens in so many myths of all cultures in the world, he is transformed into some kind of super being and sent back to Earth, transformed and made some kind of Superman. We have to only guess what happens when he goes back. It is the pattern of a great deal of mythology, and that is what we were trying to suggest.”
READ MORE: James Cameron Doesn’t Like “The Feel” of ‘2001’ And Doesn’t Really Care About Netflix
Damn. This is a damn-near historic find for cinephiles worldwide. How was this priceless footage uncovered? Apparently, a ufologist found the master VHS tape, which was then auctioned off on eBay in 2016 and, thank God for the internet, made its way online for all of us to enjoy.
It did take multiple viewings for people to truly understand and appreciate what Kubrick had accomplished with ‘2001.’ This latest find from Japan could put to rest many of the evolving theories that have emerged over the last five decades since the film’s release. Although we’re sure there will be some that will even dare to dispute Kubrick’s explanation, we now have the definitive answer from the master himself.
