Why does the movie My Dinner with Andre' close with the music of Erik Satie, the Gymnopedie number one.
ChatGPT
"My Dinner with Andre" is a 1981 American film directed by Louis Malle, featuring a conversation between characters played by Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn at a fancy New York restaurant. The film's score prominently features Erik Satie's "Gymnopédie No.1."
The choice of music in a film often serves to enhance the mood, theme, or setting. Erik Satie's "Gymnopédie No.1" is a tranquil and somewhat melancholic piece of music, often associated with introspection and contemplation.
This piece could have been chosen because it matches the philosophical and contemplative nature of the dialogue in "My Dinner with Andre." The music complements the atmospheric and intellectual depth of the conversation, adding an additional layer of introspective mood to the film.
Remember that the choice of music in any creative endeavor is often subjective and based on the creative vision of the director, so there can be other interpretations as well.
User
Could there be a darker reason?
ChatGPT
While the primary reason for choosing Erik Satie's "Gymnopédie No.1" in "My Dinner with Andre" likely lies in the piece's contemplative and introspective mood, there might be more nuanced interpretations tied to the themes of the film.
One possible interpretation could be related to Satie's own life. He was known for his eccentric lifestyle and often felt misunderstood as an artist, which led to periods of solitude and melancholy. Similarly, the characters in "My Dinner with Andre" often express feelings of alienation and a sense of being misunderstood, as they grapple with profound questions about life, society, and personal identity. In this sense, the piece could subtly echo the personal struggles and introspective journeys of the characters.
Another possible interpretation could be tied to the inherent melancholy in "Gymnopédie No.1". This might underscore the film's exploration of existential anxieties and the human condition's darker aspects, such as isolation, disillusionment, and the struggle for meaning.
Of course, these interpretations are speculative. The choice of music in a film can have many layers of meaning and can be understood in many ways, depending on the viewer's perspective.
User
I think this was the first major use of that music in a well-known film. It’s been used many times since.
ChatGPT
That's correct. The use of Erik Satie's "Gymnopédie No.1" in "My Dinner with Andre" in 1981 was one of the earliest and most notable uses of this piece in a widely recognized film. The serene and contemplative mood of the music made it a popular choice for many other filmmakers in the years following.
Since then, "Gymnopédie No.1" has been featured in numerous films and TV shows, often used to set a tranquil, reflective, or melancholic tone. Its continued use in various cinematic contexts attests to the versatility and enduring appeal of Satie's composition.
The decision to include this piece of music in "My Dinner with Andre" likely contributed to its increased popularity and recognition as a soundtrack piece.
User
Yes, some people find it difficult to stay awake during that piece.
ChatGPT
Erik Satie's "Gymnopédie No.1" is indeed known for its calm, soothing, and meditative quality. The tempo is slow and the melody is soft, repetitive, and minimalistic, which can produce a hypnotic effect. These characteristics might cause some listeners to feel relaxed to the point of sleepiness. However, for others, the piece might inspire introspection and a deepened sense of calm. It's often used in contexts intended for relaxation, such as meditation or sleep playlists. As with all music, the response can be quite subjective and depends on the individual listener.
User
One of the key themes that is treated over and over in My Dinner with Andre is how human beings relate to each other, and what it means to do so.
Do the two characters in the film relate to each other differently, and better toward the end? Ironically, I’m not sure I was seeing that.
ChatGPT
In "My Dinner with Andre," the characters of Wallace and Andre represent contrasting viewpoints about life, society, and personal relationships. Throughout the course of their conversation, their relationship shifts subtly, as they challenge, influence, and learn from each other.
At the start, their relationship seems to be defined by their differences. Andre's stories about his unconventional adventures contrast starkly with Wallace's more mundane, everyday experiences.
As the conversation continues, however, there's a noticeable shift in their relationship. Despite their differing perspectives, they each open up to the other's viewpoint and begin to challenge their own beliefs.
However, the film doesn't necessarily suggest that they relate to each other "better" by the end. They come to understand each other more deeply, but their conversation doesn't resolve neatly. This reflects the film's exploration of human relationships, which are often complex and not easily defined.
The ending of the film leaves the viewer with an open question about whether their interaction has fundamentally changed them or their relationship to one another. This ambiguity is a central aspect of the film's artistic expression and philosophical inquiry.
So, your interpretation aligns with the intention of the film: it's not necessarily about reaching a neat conclusion or "better" relationship, but about the exploration and dialogue between contrasting perspectives.
User
Andre’s last example is the imagery of a man who has a small boy, and then quickly the small grow boy grows up, and is a very large man and disappears. This example seems to enter the film abruptly in the last two or three minutes, and then the tables are being cleared and the movie is over. for a film that develops so slowly and methodically, it seems interesting that it lands on this brief, anecdote, or imagery and then suddenly it’s over.
ChatGPT
The sudden and abrupt ending of "My Dinner with Andre" might indeed seem a bit puzzling, but it can be interpreted as part of the film's exploration of the transient and unpredictable nature of life. The anecdote about the small boy who quickly grows up and disappears reflects the impermanence of life, the fleeting nature of human relationships, and the unstoppable passage of time.
By ending on this note, the film could be suggesting that, just like the conversation between Andre and Wallace, life doesn't always follow a linear, predictable path. It doesn't always provide the clear-cut resolutions that we might expect or desire.
In this way, the abrupt ending reinforces one of the main themes of the film: the complexity and unpredictability of human existence. It leaves the audience with an open-ended conclusion, encouraging them to reflect on their own interpretations of the conversation and its implications for their own lives.
So while the ending might seem surprising in its brevity and abruptness, it serves as a potent reminder of the themes that the film explores, and may have been chosen precisely for its unexpected and thought-provoking nature.
User
Have commenters on the film remarked on this rather abrupt ending?
ChatGPT
Commentary on "My Dinner with Andre" indeed often notes its abrupt ending, with many critics and viewers interpreting this as a reflection of the film's central themes.
Given the film's unconventional structure - almost entirely composed of a single conversation - there's no clear narrative arc that needs to be neatly resolved. Instead, the conversation simply concludes, much like any real-life conversation might, without a clear resolution or dramatic climax. This could be interpreted as a statement on the nature of life and personal growth: it's often nonlinear, unpredictable, and lacks the neat resolutions we see in traditional narratives.
The final anecdote about the quickly growing and disappearing boy, though brief, encapsulates many of the film's key themes, including impermanence, the passage of time, and the continual evolution of personal identity. As such, despite its abruptness, the ending effectively underscores the film's philosophical explorations.
Still, interpretations of the film and its ending vary widely. Some viewers might find the ending unsatisfying or confusing, while others appreciate its open-ended nature and alignment with the film's unconventional format and themes. As with much of the film, the ending lends itself to multiple interpretations, and individual reactions often depend on the viewer's personal perspective.
User
They are simply paying the bill, so money is found and exchanged, the waiter waits a bit and patiently for the bill to be paid, it ends on the very mundane note as other waiters set new table cloths on the midnight tables.
ChatGPT
Indeed, the film ends on a seemingly mundane note, with Wallace and Andre settling the bill and leaving the restaurant while waiters reset the tables around them for the next day. This is consistent with the film's exploration of everyday life and its inherent profundity.
The contrast between the deep, philosophical conversation and the ordinary act of paying the bill serves to ground the film in reality. It reminds viewers that such profound discussions occur within the framework of ordinary life, not apart from it. It underlines the point that introspection and philosophical dialogue are not exclusive to some extraordinary realm; they are part of our everyday existence, intertwined with routine and mundane activities.
Moreover, this closing scene brings the audience back from the deeply philosophical to the commonplace, providing a form of closure. It underscores the idea that despite their profound discussion, life goes on with its mundane routines and tasks, and this ordinariness is a part of our human experience.
So, while the ending may seem abrupt, it is in harmony with the overall themes and style of the film, reflecting its focus on the interplay between the extraordinary and the mundane in human life.
