Eat, Pray, Love (2010): a psychological analysis of the film, plot summary, meaning of the ending, similar films.
Genre: drama, melodrama
Year of production: 2010
Directed by: Ryan Murphy
Actors: Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem, Billy Crudup
tagline: “Let Yourself Go This August”
Ryan Murphy has created an interesting story about values, self-awareness, the inner world and the great human power. Unfortunately, his work was coolly received by many viewers and critics – according to them, they did not manage to understand what the director wanted to say. Probably, the meaning of the film “Eat, Pray, Love” is that it is possible to get out of the crisis correctly only by being outside the boundaries of the comfort zone. At the same time, questions of the meaning of life and the search for oneself are raised here.
What is the movie about
Brief description of the content of the film “Eat, Pray, Love.” Elizabeth (Liz) is a typical modern woman. She is married, has a wonderful home and a great career. At a certain moment, she realizes that something in her life is going wrong: she lost her appetite, she stopped feeling the taste of food. The answer is simple: she burned out – what brought her joy no longer causes vivid emotions. Feeling confused, she suddenly realizes that she has lost the meaning of life and really wants to understand what she really needs.
The role of Liz Gilbert was played by Julia Roberts. Frame from the film.
Suddenly, the head of the main character, who has lived in a successful marriage for eight years, comes up with a crazy idea – to get a divorce and as soon as possible. Husband Stephen sincerely does not understand what is wrong with them and gives his consent to a divorce with great reluctance. Meanwhile, Liz starts an easy romance with a young actor. However, this relationship quickly bores her.
In the end, the woman decides to leave her comfort zone and change her life once and for all. She embarks on a journey in which she plans to visit Italy, India and Bali.
Abroad, she enjoys tasty and healthy food and communication with interesting people. One day, one of her new friends introduces her to a private Italian teacher and they all celebrate Thanksgiving together.
A little later, spiritual quests force Liz to go to India, and then, refreshed and rested, she goes to Bali. People are drawn to her and she has a great time with them. However, her serene lifestyle is slightly overshadowed by the fact that she almost falls under the wheels of a jeep. Felipe’s driver offers to help her. Sympathy flares up between them and they start dating.
Near the end, Liz realizes that she seems to be starting to become very attached to Felipe. The former marriage and a difficult divorce are still too fresh in her memory: after thinking carefully, the main character of the film “Eat, Pray, Love” suddenly realizes that she is not ready for a new relationship and decides to part with her lover.
Eat, Pray, Love Ending explanation
The explanation for the ending of the picture is quite simple. Deciding it’s time to head back home, Liz says a warm goodbye to her friends. One of them, knowing that the rupture of relations with Felipe causes her great pain, invites her not to run away from love, but to accept it.
Agreeing with his arguments, she tells Felipe that she loves him and wants to be with him. Suddenly she realizes that her search is over and she no longer feels uneasy or empty inside. Perhaps the meaning of the Eat Pray Love ending is that Liz found peace of mind after accepting her new self.
The meaning of the film Eat, Pray, Love
The tape is based on an autobiographical novel by American writer Elizabeth Gilbert called “Eat, Pray, Love.” Unlike the book, which was liked by so many and became a bestseller, the content of the film is often criticized for its lack of content and lack of depth. However, despite the fact that “Eat, Pray, Love” cannot be called a philosophical drama with a hidden meaning, this tape is not superficial and stupid either. It’s just that it’s not for everyone – probably only those who have experienced something similar themselves can plunge into it with their heads.
Conventionally, the picture of Ryan Murphy is divided into 3 components – “Eat”, “Pray” and “Love”. In the first part of the film, Elizabeth, being in a completely burnt out state, went on a “gastronomic journey”. First of all, she (perhaps unconsciously) wanted to replenish her resources – energy and physical. At this stage of her life, she met different, but mostly very positive people, from whom she received “rays of goodness” – understanding and support.
Javier Bardem played the role of Felipe. Frame from the film.
In the next part of the film, Liz went in search of her spiritual component. Satisfied (literally and figuratively), she clearly understood what she wanted. She went to India not for entertainment, but in order to serve.
She did not just meditate, but also cleaned the temple, did any other work assigned to her, and did good deeds. That is, she did not take, but gave and rejoiced at this most of all. So her spiritual resource gradually replenished. At the same time, the relevance of the principle “eat and fill up” automatically disappeared.
That is, at first the heroine filled herself (she did well for herself), and then she gave the accumulated strength to others. Against this background, she developed a new interest in life. In India, Elizabeth met people who gave her interesting and profound advice. Only then did she begin to understand what she needed.
At the third stage, the main character of the film “Eat, Pray, Love” made an important deed – she helped one of her new acquaintances buy a house. Thus, she brought a bit of love and warmth to life.
But what about personal life? At that moment, the handsome Felipe appeared on the way of Elizabeth at this moment. Realizing that he had serious intentions, Liz, at first glance, began to behave extremely illogically – she was afraid of contact with him and tried to stay away from him. But in fact, her behavior is quite understandable. She really needed a new, fresh relationship, but at the same time she was afraid of them, because she perceived love as a factor limiting her freedom.
Richard Jenkins as Richard from Texas. Frame from the film.
As many viewers note in their analysis of the tape, Elizabeth did not have serious psychological trauma. They parted amicably with her husband – he just got tired of her, she became bored with him. It happens…
Felipe really was an ideal candidate for lovers and husbands. Being set up very seriously, he at the same time was not going to encroach on her personal space. However, after meeting him, Liz developed psychosomatic problems, her condition was far from comfortable. A little later, she realized that she experienced temporary discomfort associated with the transition to a new status. Realizing that she got what she needed from the trip, Liz felt that she was ready to move on – in the chosen direction and next to this particular person.
We are constantly burdened with something, we worry, we work, we hurry somewhere, we try to do everything faster. It is good when a person feels that what he is doing is what he needs. And if not? The thought of what will happen later, when we do some business and achieve this or that goal, hits the mind quite hard. It is followed by another, even more uncomfortable. It sounds like this: “Will I be happy when I reach my goal?”
For Elizabeth, the emergence of such thoughts was the starting point, followed by a crisis. She successfully passed it, understood a lot, and as a result, her life changed for the better. Perhaps the essence of the film lies in the fact that we should not be afraid of crises – because they often help us move forward.
The role of Ketut was played by Hadi Subyanto. Frame from the film.
According to one interpretation, “Eat, Pray, Love” is a film about escaping: from yourself, from your usual life and from people with whom relationships have exhausted themselves. But he also talks about the need to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new. And it’s not about travel and food, but about the ability to allow yourself to relax and find time for simple, but such pleasant things.
Food, religion and love are things that only help to find peace and harmony. By themselves, they do not provide them. The key to harmony is a worldview devoid of self-deception and as free from prejudices as possible.
The film “Eat, Pray, Love” is very similar to a sweet melodrama. Let it be. But, in the end, what’s the difference if, after watching, there is a desire to put everything in its place in your head and open up to new impressions?
Frame from the film.
Similar films
Here are a few films that are similar in meaning to “Eat, Pray, Love”:
- “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (Spain, USA, 2008). Vicki and Christina are friends. After going on vacation to Barcelona, they both become infatuated with an artist named Antonio, who, in turn, sympathizes with both.
- “Under the Tuscan Sun” (USA, Italy, 2003). After a difficult divorce, Francis travels to Tuscany. There she starts a new life.
- “Letters to Juliet” (USA, 2010). Sofia is a volunteer. Arriving in Italy under the program, she becomes a participant in a beautiful and unusual story.
