‘Leave the World Behind’ Author Calls Movie’s Shock Ending ‘So Satisfying’

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Sam Esmail’s cinematic interpretation of Rumaan Alam’s novel, Leave the World Behind, received the author’s endorsement. The apocalyptic thriller concludes with a somewhat uplifting moment as Rosie, played by Farrah Mackenzie, the runaway daughter of Amanda and Clay, portrayed by Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke, manages to locate a power generator and a DVD player, allowing her to finally watch the series finale of Friends.

The Cinematic Interpretation

The incorporation of the Friends scene is a new addition to the narrative, adapted from Rumaan Alam’s bestselling Leave the World Behind novel. Alam said in an interview that he found the film’s conclusion, penned by Esmail, to be highly satisfying, even though certain aspects were intentionally left open to interpretation.

According to Alam, concluding the movie with a humorous twist was self-reflective, as Sam Esmail, a filmmaker with experience in television, may have been making statements about the influence of the TV medium.

Rumaan Alam’s Opinion

Despite saying that it was funny, Rumaan Alam pointed out he didn’t think it was a joke. The author of the Leave the World Behind novel stated that he found it to be a reminder that art is something like a salve. He also mentioned he had seen audiences react in different ways to the ending that kept them guessing if the movie was even over.

Alam also said that he believed it would be dissatisfying to give audiences all the final answers regarding the characters’ fates and what caused the end-of-the-world situation. He added that this was how the film respected the viewer enough not to provide those answers and that it wasn’t one of those movies that show the viewer that everyone made it through and everything was going to be okay by the end.

The Film Is Somewhat Different

Leave the World Behind kicks off with Amanda organizing a vacation for her husband and two children to escape New York City life for a while. However, as an assumed cyberattack unfolds, the plot takes an unexpected turn when two strangers, portrayed by Mahershala Ali and Myha’la Herrold, arrive at the rental home, saying they are the owners. Faced with a doomsday scenario, this group of different individuals must unite and put aside their differences to go through the crisis in front of them.

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During the Leave the World Behind world premiere at AFI Fest in October, Rumaan Alam noted that Sam Esmail understood the screen, and he understood the page. Alam emphasized the transformative nature of adapting ambiguity from a book into a distinct emotional experience on screen. He concluded that the movie interpretation was faithful despite some necessary adjustments that were common when translating a book to a different medium.

Meet Your New Sunday Sauce: These Pork Meatballs in Cashew Curry Come Together in Under an Hour

Meet Your New Sunday Sauce: These Pork Meatballs in Cashew Curry Come Together in Under an Hour

Have you been craving light and fluffy pork meatballs? This recipe will drive you crazy. The smooth cashew curry sauce will give it that extra kick, and this dish only takes about an hour to make. You can rest assured that your family will love it.

Pork Meatballs With Cashew Curry

The pork meatballs are made with pork belly for that added fattiness and flavor. The key to cooking them is the ratio of meat and bread.  Pork belly is a cut of boneless meat that comes from the belly of a pig. It adds fattiness and flavor to many dishes. You can find it in pretty much all the major supermarkets or butcher shops. Cashew flour is gluten-free and commonly found in specialty grocery stores.

Heating whole spices helps add more flavor to any dish. You can saute store-bought curry powder to make it more aromatic. Another suggestion is to store the leftover meatballs in an airtight container. They can last up to three days in the refrigerator. Now that you’ve learned some tips and tricks, here’s what you need to prepare this dish.

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

  • 3 (1/2-inch-thick) white bread slices (1 ounce each), crusts removed
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 2 pounds of ground pork
  • 8 ounces pork belly, finely chopped
  • 3 medium shallots, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 5 garlic cloves, finely chopped (about 4 teaspoons)
  • 1 small Thai chile, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons fish sauce
  • 2 teaspoons white pepper
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
Ingredients

For the curry:

  • 1 medium-sized white onion, roughly chopped (about 2 1/4 cups)
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 2 tablespoons curry powder
  • 2 (14.5-ounce) cans of diced tomatoes (undrained)
  • 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 2 tablespoons cashew flour (see Note)
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • Fresh parsley leaves and chopped unsalted raw cashews, for garnish

Instructions

Meatball preparation:

Start by combining the bread and milk in a shallow baking dish. Let the bread soak for about a minute. Then, form a paste from the mixture and set aside. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Put parchment paper on a rimmed baking sheet and set aside. Chop the pork and pork belly in a food processor, combine well, and put it in a large bowl. Add the bread paste, shallots, garlic, Thai chile, sugar, fish sauce, white pepper, salt, and chili powder, and combine everything. Divide the meat mixture into 1 1/2-ounce portions and roll the meatballs. Put them on the baking sheet, cover, and set aside.

Instructions

Cashew curry preparation:

For the cashew curry, you’ll need to blend the onion, garlic, and ginger until smooth. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-low and add the curry powder. Keep on stirring for about 30 seconds. Stir in the onion mixture, diced tomatoes, five tablespoons of butter, cashew flour, fish sauce, and sugar. Cook while stirring occasionally, and add some salt to taste. Voilá!

Cooking the Meatballs

Heat some oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook the meatballs while turning them occasionally until you get them browned on all sides. Once they’re ready, transfer them to the preheated oven and bake them until a thermometer inserted in the thickest portion registers 160°F. Add the cream and the remaining two tablespoons of butter to the curry. Pour it over the meatballs and top it off with some parsley and cashews.