Explanation of the Movie ‘Stay’
The other night I watched the 2005 movie “Stay” with Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts and some other guy (Ryan Gosling). The only reason I watched it is that so many people come to this site looking for an explanation of that movie. Unfortunately this movie has little to no plot and really doesn’t need an explanation in my view.
*** SPOILERS ***
The movie opens with a brutal car crash in which Ryan Gosling’s character is not hurt at all. This is your first clue that something is awry. If you’re like me you’ll have read the box the movie came in. The box says something to the effect of “you cannot stay in the world between life and death” so it’s a fairly small leap to assume that’s where the movie takes place. From here on out you’re in a dream world. Most people don’t get this until the end of the movie or until they watch it a second time.
The movie does have nice scene transitions, just like a dream. Characters walk from location to location as if they were teleported or were walking from a movie set to a movie set. This is just the director showing off and at the same time telling the viewer that this is a dream or taking place in the dream world between life and death. In other words, Ryan’s dying from the car crash, and this is what’s going through his mind right before he dies. There’s a lot of this but it’s all fairly obvious stuff and gets old after a while.
Some examples:
* Twins and triplets in the college lecture hall. Twins and triplets in a dream suggest duality.
* Bob Hoskins says “The buddists had it right, the world is an illusion”.
* Characters walk behind pillars and change direction
* Characters get confused for one another
* Characters change appearance.
* Sees his dead parents.
* Ewan falls down stairs (dream reference), then the previous scene (hamlet) is repeated
* Places morph into one another
* Giant seal (manatee?) in the aquarium, seals in dreams refer to playfullness and creativity?
* Naomi’s character helps Ewan in the dream world, just as she’s doing in the physical world.
* Ewan’s pants are too short. This I don’t know, probably something they threw in for ha-hahs.
* Raining – “dark clouds and a heavy downpour indicate feelings of isolation and helplessness”.
* Riding a train – indicates a shared experience.
The rest of the movie wanders on with nothing happening really. You might think stuff is happening based on the way the scenes are cut together but nope, there’s nothing happening.
Finally the movie ends with the predicted ending that everything you’ve just seen has taken place in the mind of the dying Ryan Gosling on the Brooklyn bridge. Again, it’s not a true logical movie in the sense of Primer. It’s just an artsy non-conclusive open to interpretation type thing that doesn’t tie up all the loose ends but leads you to suspect you missed something. You really didn’t. Thumbs down.
This movie could’ve been better though. If maybe they put Ryan’s character bare-foot denoting death?
Just because you failed to watch the movie twice and understand its intricacies does not mean that the film “has little to no plot and bears no explanation”. The plot is clear; a psychologist finds himself losing reason and trying to find an explanation to a world that is making less sense every day. The explanation of the films strange events lies in Leons mention of Freuds fable about the burning boy. That which surrounds us affects our subconscious, even in the form of dreams. Ryans character must choose whether he holds onto life despite his loss and guilt, or whether he will let go rather than face his pain. Those helping him in real life guide him in his dream/vision but are unable to convince him to survive. The story takes place twice. Once we see it through a dream, once through reality. The dream seems to last three days but truly occurs in Ryans mind during his brief struggle for life which we see during the last 10 minutes of the film. This explains the visions, the voices, the confusion of the characters and Ryans ability to affect the world around him. Not hard to figure out for me, but I am majoring in psychology, so that may have helped.
Tou missed everything. Unfortunately you are not a deep thinker or one with a dab of respectable intuition:
This is really a spectacular film. I know Im going to have to see it at least once more, because theres so much stuff going on that its impossible to give Stay the attention it deserves in one viewing.
First and foremost, although I wont give away the plot here, Ill say that the movie (thankfully) does not rely on a surprise ending for the totality of its impact. In fact, if youre paying attention, you can pretty much figure out (mostly) what the situation is before you get too far into the movie. Unlike some of the worst examples of this film genre (i.e. The Sixth Sense), Stay is not a film that “hides the ball,” but instead presents you with characters and a storyline, and asks you to draw your own conclusions.
That said, there isnt an obvious solution to the movie. While you may be able to explain the film after viewing it (which is trickier that it will seem at first), you may realize that the real brilliance of this film is in the levels of its narrative. At its core, it is a basic psychological thriller. Simultaneously, and perhaps subconsciously, it also meditates on weighty issues of reality and identity- consider what the imperative “Stay” means to different characters at different points in the film, and its almost like youre watching an entirely different movie than you originally thought.
Finally, the visuals in this movie provide their own context and narrative regarding the fragile nature of human memory and perception. This is the best looking movie Ive seen in a long time, and the fact that its combined with such a great story and cast makes this a rare treat.
Yeah, I too must have missed EVERYTHING! The movie sucked and I wouldnt recommend it to anyone!
from what I can gather, Ryans character henry at the begining was in a car crash (obvious) at the point you see him unharmed is were the dreamworld begins, the entire movie except the end is a dream, the type of dream where you are mostly asleep but somewhat awake, this explains the small clues such as the answering machine asking henry to hold on, you ever had a dream where the phone is ringing only to wake up to the phone ringing, the people standing on the bridge at the end are the people henrys mind has put in place of thoughts in his head, they play the short flashes of situations. I personaly dont think Sam, (ewan mcgregor)has anything to do with henry, its just a subconscience persona, in the dream henry tells sam that he came to him because he is the only one that can save him, i think he says because his conscience body only has sam trying to keep him alive until the ambulence shows up. I also believe in the dream sams girlfriend plays almost no relationship to henry because at the end you see henry thinking she is athena so his subconscience didnt build a relation to her personaly. This seems to be the only logical explanation to the story i can come up with, i felt as though we took a ride into the dream world where things seem real yet unreal things happen i.e. the blind man is cured with the touch of hand, as if henry was god, a subconscience reaction to being close to god or near death maybe. Anyways i thought it was a great movie, you watch as though there is going to be a huge revealed secret, and come to find its no real secret the answers are there.
The reason ewans pants are short.
Henry lying on the floor when the accident occured. and Ewan was crouching to help him and from henrys point of view is just the pants and socks. Thats why in henrys mind, he thinks that the ewan wears short pants.
Max, thanks for the psycho-babble explanation and saving me from the drudgery of watching the movie. Guess Im not a deep thinker, and your explanation made the most “consolidated” sense of all.
Just watched the movie, and came away completely puzzled. I was quite angry that I wasted so much time, awaiting all the peices to come together in the end, but when there, I was still confused. I came to the net in search for an answer and finally found one thanks to Max. I may not be the brightest star in the sky, but I do think (and there is proof by the explanations found on the web) that most wont understand this movie. I give it two thumbs down.
you re maybe right…but what if you are not? open ending is an alibistic element in this kind of films, i guess
yep you probably knew it all along because everything is obvious and clear.
good movie. good plot.
A lot of Americans are used to movies that are “chewed up” for them, where one doesnt require to think…too bad, in my opinion. This is an excellent movie, very engaging and beautifully shot. Ive found all of the clues and answers by the end of the movie. When we analyze our dreams, a lot of it doesnt make any sense, thats how you should think of the oddities in the movie. Ill definitely watch it again, Im sure itll be a different experience once you know whats going on.
I dont buy into generalizations and Im Irish, not American.
I understood most but not all the clues. I think if the plot had been deeper then I would have made the effort to understand the “clues”. The plot was so weak that 45mins into the movie I had already figured out the main arc and had lost interest.
Its very easy to create a series of bells and whistles on an otherwise simple story. Its far more difficult to create a compelling story with no gimmicks. Watch Primer for an example of same.
I take it all back… everything I said half way through, the reality of it all is time stood still for me, stood still while I watched this dumb ass movie…. So I say “this movies really does suck ass”… this movie does get two fingers up, unfortunately its my two middle ones…………
The reason that Ewans characters (Sam Foster) pants are short are because Ryan Gosling (Henry Letham) is looking at Sam while he is crouched which causes his pants to rise just that much higher. So, in the entire hallucination or illusion that is Henrys, Sams pants are raised as if they would be should he have been crouching.
OK..well im off to watch the movie again theres just a few things i would love to understand…first off…whats up with the whole artist killing himself thing having to do with? just doesnt make sense… and the movie is a dream but it seams as if its looked trough sams eyes.
I did not enjoy this movie (I agree with you re: the scene transitions, though – well done). I particularly didnt like the who attempt at a creepy version of Ground Hog Day and I think Ewans pants were too short to throw viewers off in a direction that had nothing to do with whats ultimately going on – perhaps that they are each others alter egos or something.
I will say this – I thought Ryan Gosling did a fantastic job and I have since rented two or three other movies just because hes in them; at 25, I would venture to say hes one of the better actors of his generation if not the best.
Is Sam suppose to represent Henry during his dying minutes of hallucination? I feel most of the movie was based on Sams life and confusions with reality. Why are we not seeing more of Henry?
hey, by the way, it’s a walrus. not a seal or a manitee. just a walrus.
This movie did rock. At least, if you didn’t appreciate the story because you’re too dumb or something, then rate it from an artistic point of view. Of course this is a movie to watch with an opened mind. Story was great, actors where perfect, and for god’s sakes! editing was pure genius. Maybe they already where movies of this kind before. True. But hey, stupid horror movies that invade theaters have the same script since 1670, and guess what, they still manage to sell their crap. So PLEASE, overestimating yourselves, stop thinking you’re that “all mighty movie critic”, and consider that compared to all the crap that’s being made theses days, it rocks. And it still rock compared to a lot of good movies. Nobody complained about Fight Club’s ending, although it was one of the easiest ways to end the movie. Judge a movie based on its content, not its ending.
i think u guys shud read wat freggs has to say
A little clue:
Henry’s last name is a rewrite of Hamlet (Let-Ham), and just like the prinse of Denmark, Henry is in a stade of To be or not to be, while he is waiting to die.
i loved the movie
i was freaking lost at the end…. i was bewildred!
then i read that the dying henry is dreaming?
um.. ??
lol
WHAT!! someone please tell me wtf this movie is about
I thought that Stay was an amazing movie. It has so much to say about reality. I think it’s sad that people don’t open their minds a little bit to see the symbolism in it. I have watched this movie at least 6 times. I don’t get sick of it. You catch something new all the time. It is beautiful. And this life, or illusion, is beautiful. Honestly, it opened my eyes and and made me see that this is beautiful whatever it may be. I mean, who knows, we could be dead and our spirits are living in a dream. Maybe that is the reason of life. No one ever wonders about these things anymore. I think it’s sad. Trapped between life and death in a illusion. Everything is a symbol in this movie. Kind of like the Wall, except Stay is deeper because it deals with this reality. I give it infinite thumbs up. And to those that do not agree, I am sorry. You are entitled to your own opinion. But, if you ever watch it again, just take it all in as if it were you.
What Sean said never even occurred to me: Way to Go Sean!
I was lost for a bit in this movie: and I think that is the point: to feel lost and bewildered just as the characters must have been! I loved it, felt very creeped out and then the emotions at the end werre overwhelming, and I found myself crying for a stranger just like Naomi Watts. I felt the acting on Ewan, Naomi and Ryans parts were just stunning. And the cinematography was simply amazing.
Just saw movie a year later for the second time. I’m so glad I found this site because I have been frustrated for a year. I give the movie two thumbs up. Too bad I could understand much of its conclusion. Thanks Max. I hope your assesment is right. I want to corner the writer/director for answers.
I am very torn by this movie. Part of me feels that its aesthetic quality makes up for confusion experienced during the movie. The movie is explained in the last minutes, and the feel of everything being a dream is done very effectively.The ending is also adequate.
However, being a film/story writing major, I feel that the author/screenwriter disobeys one of the first rules of storywriting: Don’t spout a bunch of shit and at the end say,”Oh it was all a dream.” It is a huge betrayal to the viewer, that everything they watched was just an abstraction existing only in someone’s mind. I could make a movie about literally anything and call it a dream. How would that be significant? Are you ever interested when someone tells you about a dream they had? NO!!! The film’s lack of twist ending is also its downfall. The whole time I was expecting for some mind blowing ending, and it never came. That is the only way for these kind of abstract movies to be effective.
My impression was that the “dream-like” quality depicted Sam’s brief psychotic break brought on by the trauma of wittnessing the accident and his inability to help the victim. Also thought the scenes at the aquarium (“the sea”) with the Walrus (or whatever it was)symbolized Sam’s subconcious. Good movie. Maybe a little overdone, visually, but still good.
Just want to ask a few questions:
Levy’s name was mentioned only after Henry died. So how come in the dream, Henry knows Levy’s name?
What’s with the silver brief cases everyone’s carrying?
What’s with the reoccurring “Watch Your Step Sign”?
Henry’s shoelaces are untied, does that suggest anything?
Hi guys – I just watched the movie and after reading all the comments I think you only got half of everything.
Filmluvr (three comments up) nailed it by writing
” Don’t spout a bunch of shit and at the end say,”Oh it was all a dream.” ”
Well yes, half of the meaning is that Henry dreamed all of this before he died (a little bit like Jesus in the Last Temtation movie), but I think the other half of the meaning – excuse my english, if its too primitive – is that Sam and Lila had a big trauma together there, watching Henry die in their hands and they met there at the crash site, had coffee together started a relationship and are still dealing with the aftermath. Maybe she cut her wrists later. Maybe she can’t sleep and has to take pills. Maybe Beth started to drink after the accident – heck I don’t know.
But I think/feel that there are two layers of reality. One – the brief moment before Henry dies and one that spands over years (as long as it would take for a slit wrist to heal) showing how difficult it is for to live with such a huge trauma.
i’d say it’s open to (too much) interpretation.
is it a dream?/is ryan a ghost?/is it aftherlife?/is it imagination?
every question may be answered with yes when you look at the movie in a particular way.
I though the acting in this movie was good but the storyline was just plain boring. I get the whole dream world thing it just isn’t very entertaining.
i have just one question : even if i think/feel i understood all the dream & etc…side about henry before his death, i don’t understand why sam in the last scene invits lila to drink a coffee after he has seemed to have “flashs” (thoughs by images) about a life together…???????????????
(sorry for my bad english or if this question has been asked before, i couldn’t read every message :s)
wtf?!!.. all of your were struggling to figure it out?! come on! i think max had the best commentary about the story (though majoring in psychology). not really, he had..
perhaps sam realizes his life is kind of empty and could end all too soon. the flashes are his mind conjuring up a possible reality. he saw the ring and and the dying kid, and was inspired to live life more fully
WOW ok just watched it last night and absolutely found it to be genuis and I never say that. This movie does not tie up neatly like some typical Hollywood Box Office HIT made for ordinary people who don’t want to have to work when they see a movie- so if you didn’t get it and are so turned off -you probably never will until right before you die. Literally – because this movie so brilliantly takes us on a journey of the beauty of our brains and how we cope with extreme impactful tradgedy and pain , especially when taken away abrubtly with our loved ones- how in our last moments we want to live out what our dreams were and try to create them and make them happen. Whats makes us hold on to life? The specifics of the film arent even that important really -it’s his specific journey. Yes I think SAMS pants were high because of how he saw them from the ground and ,the people watching him were cast in is mind by the way he took them in for a seconds he absorbed them- the asian male bystander watching him die wanted to leave- and he was cast as somewhat of a cold mental health DR.- brilliant. Maybe his father never say him for what he was and he was able through his dream to make his father truly see him before he died-he was able to finally pop the question to his love he’d been probably excited and consumed by that for weeks and it was on him- he even thought Henry had stolen the ring at one point – SAM says I did’t steal your ring – Henry holds him by gunpoint, showing the extreme fear of that ring gone( he even reaches for it) and quick fix of a moment creating the quickest way to get it back- I could go on and on with each character .This film really moved me and made me think and appreciate being a human being- I think many of us go around day to day in small versions of these fantasies to help us survive day to day. It’s important to see them.
Lots of you are so closed minded STAY was excellently made and I find it quite annoying to see someone refer to the great transitions as the director showing off, its like not wanting to see kobe dunk, it gets the job done, puts points on the board, and is entertaining. On the other hand its also annoying to read someone think there above others because they understood the movie and were able to see the art in it, thats to Maria. let me tell you this blog does not represent American culture. American culture is barely a culture because no one is similar here.
I think all of the characters in the movie were the people he last saw before he died standing around him. the entire movie is something he put together using the people around him, kind of like a dream, “between life and death” but stretched out, using that last 5 minutes or so laying on the ground. the reason he is depicted as unharmed is because he couldn’t see himself, or what was left of him. when he is at his most consciousness is when his dream is actually like a story. but towards the end he struggles when he’s slipping back and forth into consciousness, when there’s just a character chasing after something.
when their is a character that wasn’t there at the scene, it is from his own memory of something (trading a painting for a book and the two characters).
thats just my interpretation of (which there is no right and wrong about the ones above me) this movie, which should be fun and interesting for people to share their thoughts about, rather than saying hostile and confronting things about “im right and your wrong.”
people need to value others opinions when it helps to see things from another point of view.
i thought all of yours were interesting, aside from the bitchy trouble makers.
Stay=MasterPiece
I just watched “Stay” and felt utterly bewildered and fascinated by it, so I came to this site looking for an explanation. Thank you, each and every one of you who took the time to describe your point of view, thanks to you I am now able to appreciate this beautiful film in a better way.
If you still feel hesitant whether or not to see “Stay” (maybe for the second time, if you didn’t get it at first), I strongly suggest that you do, for it is a spectacular, deep, true masterpiece that provokes you to see the beauty around you and cherish the biggest treasure of all – life itself.
i agree with max and dave =) good movie!!
atleast..its something different =D
I cannot believe that you did not like this movie. This is one of my favorite movies of all times. It seems that you really misunderstood a lot of it and even failed to see the simplicity of the story amidst all the technical complexities. I have watched this film multiple times and I must say that it even moves me to tears. Though it is a terribly sad and almost depressing story, it is also extremely beautiful. Also, I would just like to add that Ewan McGregor’s pants aren’t too short just for “ha-has”. Rather it is a symbol. When Henry is dying and laying on the road, Ewan’s pants appear shorter due to the angle at which Henry is viewing him. Therefore, during the the dream-state within Henry’s unconscious mind, Ewan’s pants always appear short.