The Great Lillian Hall ending explained: What happened to Jessica Lange's tragic fate?

The Great Lillian Hall is a new HBO original movie about a legendary Broadway star grappling with dementia. The story follows Jessica Lange's character, Lillian Hall, as she develops dementia while rehearsing for her final Broadway performance in "The Cherry Orchard," determined to deliver a memorable last performance despite her condition.

As the movie draws to a close, it reflects Lillian dancing with her late husband before fading away into thin air. This ending of the movie presents Lillian's tragic fate, a metaphor for her fading memory and life.

The final scene of the movie depicts Lillian taking a bow after her last performance. While dancing with her husband, she fades away, symbolizing her departure from life and memory. Life is all about changes and losing close ones is inevitable in life and this ending highlights her tragic fate, following the theme of "The Cherry Orchard".

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The ending of The Great Lillian Hall explained

As Lillian Hall prepares for her role in "The Cherry Orchard," her condition starts deteriorating. However, like a true artist, she refuses to let it overshadow her passion for the theater. Her consistent hallucinations of her late husband become more vivid, following her mental decline.

The final performance

Despite her struggles, Lillian manages to deliver a memorable performance. Her memory problems, passion, and commitment to performing on stage are evident. For Lillian, the last performance is a release, a time when her hallucinations and reality merge into one.

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The symbolic dance

After the curtain falls, Lillian's husband appears on stage, and they share a dance. This moment is significantly symbolic, as it marks Lillian's transition from life to death.

Her frequent visions of her late husband show her deep connection to the theater and her inability to let go of the past. As her dementia worsens, these visions intensify, leading to the final dance where reality and hallucination merge. This dance symbolizes her final bow to life.

As they dance, Lillian fades away, representing her transition from the physical world to the afterlife.

The Cherry Orchard Parallel

"The Cherry Orchard" serves as a perfect backdrop for Lillian's story. The play's themes of loss and the passage of time mirror Lillian's own experiences.

Just as the characters in the play face inevitable change, Lillian too, must come to terms with her declining health and the end of her career. The play within the film becomes a poignant reflection of Lillian's life, making her final performance even more significant.

Critical Acclaim

The Great Lillian Hall, released on May 31, has received widespread acclaim for its portrayal of dementia and the life of a theater legend. Jessica Lange's performance has been praised, bringing depth and nuance to the character of Lillian Hall. The film's direction by Michael Cristofer and its beautiful cinematography further enhance the emotional impact of the story.

On Rotten Tomatoes, The Great Lillian Hall got critic appreciation,

Lange’s performance is so good that she gives this therapy-corn version of The Show Must Go On a worldly center you can roll with and almost believe in.

The Great Lillian Hall ends on a deeply emotional note, with Lillian Hall's final dance symbolizing her farewell to life and the stage. Her tragic fate is a reflection of her struggles with dementia and her unwavering dedication to the theater.