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