The Kaufman Hell - I'm Thinking of Ending Things

What is this film REALLY about? What is Kaufman trying to say?
That's something we will never know, as Kaufman is infamous for purposefully making things vague and open to interpretation. But that doesn't mean we can't speculate; in fact, we're invited to do so.
So let's give it a try.

In case people wonder, the main music is mine I created for this video, and it WILL be available on bandcamp / soundcloud soon after this video gets released (also, will start spotify fairly soon).

Also, I truly believe this movie can be seen as a comedy, not just dreadful horror / drama piece.

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Extra Credits:

What Charlie Kaufman has to say:

Interesting read on the film:

Timestamp
0:00 Introduction
1:07 The Film / The Feeling
2:05 The Four Sections
2:32 The Struggle
4:58 The Conflict
5:51 The Dinner
8:11 The Obsession
10:45 Lucy
13:26 The Acceptance
15:25 Thank You

[diegeticfridge]

I love the “how can you have a sad image without someone looking sad in the picture?” Contrasted with the final frame of the snow covered truck alone in the school parking lot in the morning. It’s the saddest frame of the film. Without a person in sight.

[dumpsta-divrr]

The idea that Jake and the woman, these deeply thoughtful and nuanced people, were reflections of the janitor's soul that others could never see is honestly so crushing to me. Recognizing that every single person around you, especially those forgotten by society, have such beautiful and deep inner worlds is an idea that really overwhelms me sometimes.

[aklemens]

“Coming home is terrible. Whether the dogs lick your face, or not. Whether you have a wife. Coming home is terribly lonely.” - what a quote, and the delivery on top of that. One of those quotes that actually hits in a way that only subconscious would understand

[_elevenofspades]

The 5 stages of watching “I’m Thinking of Ending Things”:
confusion ("what is happening?"),
fear ("seriously, please, tell me what's happening!"),
exasperation ("take her home, man, just take her home!!"),
realization ("oh!"),
and depression ("... oh...") 🌨

[markpostgate]

8:56 I love the fact that not a bite of food has been eaten during the entire meal; every plate cleared from the table is just as full as it was at the beginning of the scene.

[aartoodeetooo]

calling the woman a different name every time she's talked about in this essay is a brilliant nod.

[rileyelizabeth]

When I first discovered this movie, it was midnight and I just wanted something to watch to distract myself, and I remember thinking that, as the movie went on, it would continue forever. Like the movie had always been going on, and would continue to go on. It was absolutely horrific, and I loved and hated every minute of it.

[superkitten]

I haven't seen the movie but I did read the book. The slow unraveling near the end really gets to you. I appreciate this analysis!

[jacqj]

I hated this movie simply because it put me in a dissociative and derealized state that absolutely destroyed my whole winter. It felt like a regular day in my brain on screen, and I applaud Kaufman for doing so well with showing what the brain’s imagination would look like. I’m never going to watch the movie again, but I will give it complete and total props to the movie and everyone who worked on it for getting such a visceral response from the audience. The attention to detail was absolutely astounding.

[TechnFox]

This movie is haunting in all the best ways. A movie about creeping thoughts and "what could have been" fantasies will really get into your own brain, as it really did stick in my head weeks after my first viewing.

Also the acting is just top-notch on everyone's part. Probably some of the best acting I've ever seen in a movie.

[_NaLo_]

10:10 I more took the changing clothes and details to mean that this is a daydream/fantasy that the main character has come back to and replayed in his head many many times over the years, with details changing as he gets older.

[VallisYT]

When I first watched the film, I didn't understand what exactly was going on, yet I was intrigued by the surreal atmosphere and the underlying existential dread. Since I've learned more about the film (in no small part through videos like this), my respect and fascination for both Kaufman and this movie have increased even further. Thank you for this excellently written and edited analysis!

[AssassinGlasgow]

I think Kaufman’s works are some of the most realistic movies ever made despite being so surreal and bizarre at times it feels like you’re in a dream. I personally like this because, as much as it is incredibly depressing by pushing existential dread in your face, and all that it means to be human, it is also cathartic, and I feel the dream-like nature helps to soften the package of what are otherwise agonising, paralysing thoughts.

[plsarguewithme]

Im a maladaptive daydreamer and it took me two watches to realize that this movie captures what it's like to live a constant, never ending, daydream. There is no cohesion because the events that take place within his "paracosm" (the daydream world) is a response to events occuring simultaneously in his real life. His innermost emotions are directly reflected by the journey. And at some point we get to see how reality bleeds in the daydream and vice versa, eventually acting out the fantasy and reality becoming part of the daydream itself.

Although this interpretation could be true, what I love about this film, and the book it was based on, is that it's very open to interpretation. Like jake, we become the masters of the theme wherein it is up to us on how we will project our own experiences and feelings onto the story.

[naungthaw]

This movie made me feel so unsettled.
It hasn’t changed.

[MattSRippeR]

One of the best movies I've seen in my entire life. The fear of the end, the fear of ending things, the fear of a lost or wasted life, the fear of loneliness, the fear of heartbreak, the fear of loss, the fear of disappointment, the fear to be alone, the fear of dying alone, the fear of coming home and that this is something terrible, as the poem "Bonedog" says so well. That's the key to the movie. In that poem. "Bonedog". Beautiful poem, but also extremely nihilistic and pessimistic, and fatalistic. But beautiful anyway. A film that invites you to think on various things, from a quite existentialist and profound point of view, at times also philosophical, and sometimes quite nihilistic, or sad or tragic. One of those movies that stays with you and becomes part of you. In my opinion, one of the best movies I've seen, among some others. I take it to eternity. And yes, as you said at the end of the video, along with that scene from the movie that is beautiful, this movie is going to leave you thinking about many things, but also about the endings of things. And everything that has a beginning has an end. We must never forget the mortality of things. A movie that is much more than just a movie. Something unique, beautiful, sensitive, poetic, and existentialist. Something necessary and fundamental I would say. Thanks for the analysis.

[jazzensemble]

This film feels exactly like having a psychotic episode. I've had psychotic episodes before and I was genuinely concerned I may be having one again while watching this.

[sapphic.flower]

Idk if I'm just over-thinking it or it's just poor wording but I wouldn't refer to the ending as "acceptance" or "Jake's destiny" since the subject is never something people should think is meant to happen to themselves or others. I saw the movie as exploring factors that contribute to those kind of thoughts. How we glamourize romantic relationships and success that when we don't have it, we see it as a reflection of our self-worth. There's also the fact Jake is made fun of by the high school students and seems to have difficult feelings towards his parents.

Societal expectations, standards, harassment, a difficult childhood and loneliness (not just romantically) are all damaging components to a person's mental well being. Rather than just relating to the protagonist in a self-pitying way, we should view it as a deconstruction of the ways depression and suicide is perpetuated in our society and environment.

[MsSarahJosephine]

I despise this movie. Not because it's a bad movie but because it was too effective and triggered the biggest depressive episode I have had in a long time as I watched every fear I've ever had for myself and everyone I love onscreen and couldn't look away like a car crash in slow motion. It took a good couple of weeks to get out of that very dark place and Im just glad I was around people i care about and who care about me during the lockdown or things could have been worse. There were other factors at play of course - pandemics are quite stressful - but god f*ck this movie. I suppose the fact I can watch this video proves to myself that I'm doing a lot better than I was. But lesson learned, and maybe it was only my very specific form of depression but DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE IF YOU SUFFER DEPRESSION.

Also call me disgustingly cheesy but Pixar's "Soul" and it's core message is a wonderful remedy for this movie.

[SpikimaMovies]

What a trip. So many details I couldn't discuss, but let me toss that to you. What's YOUR favourite detail of this movie?
EDIT: OH and one more. "Synecdoche New York VS ITOET"?


PS: I’m back! In case people wonder, the main music is something I made for this video and will be uploaded on my pages soon. See you again soon everyone :) Thanks for your patience and continued support. All important links in the description.