But where are you ready to draw the line between blissful ignorance and your happiness? They claim that what we don’t know can’t hurt us. Some things should be avoided, including asking questions, opening doors, and attending some secret sex parties. Here’s the storyline and resolution of Stanley Kubrick’s 1999 film Eyes Wide Shut explained; there will be spoilers after.
Eyes Wide Shut| Plot Explained
Doctor William “Bill” Harford learns that his wife Alice had fantasies about cheating on him while they were on vacation the day after a sumptuous upper-class party. When the phone rings, Bill, who is still traumatised by this realisation, learns that one of his patients has just passed away. He goes to offer his sympathies there.
The night takes a bizarre turn at this point. Bill finds that his patient’s engaged daughter is head over heels in love with him while still carrying the memories of his wife’s adultery. He also finds out about a secret society sex party, which he tries to break into.
The situation here shifts from odd to downright deadly. Bill’s impersonation is uncovered at the party. Who knows what would have happened if one of the masked girls—a prostitute whose life he rescued in one of the film’s early scenes—had not stepped in? Here, secret societies are portrayed as being far less inconsequential and much more sinister than they are in films like Filth.
Eyes Wide Shut| Ending Explained
The movie Eyes Wide Shut’s climax reveals that Bill and Alice are too aware of one another and the adultery they are capable of committing, but they still chose to live happily unaware of everything. As knowledge only brings sadness, the couple decides to live life via clouded spectacles. It’s the opposite of a couple who, despite the fact that both may be faithful, live in continual suspicion of one another.
Bill finally breaks down in tears and tells his wife everything that happened the past two days. The pair appears traumatised in the final scenes, yet they are steadfastly committed to trying to correct their condition by tightly closing their eyes. Who is to say that this won’t work for the two, despite the fact that it’s simple to judge them?
Frequently Asked Questions
Eyes Wide Shut| What happened to Domino? Did Bill get HIV?
The sex worker Domino has been identified as having HIV. Bill avoids sleeping with Domino and acquiring HIV because he gets a call from Alice and departs. Bill is aware of how close he came to getting the illness. He views it as a lucky omen and is grateful for the life he currently leads.
Eyes Wide Shut| What is the password?
The name of Beethoven’s opera Fidelio served as the party’s password. Its Italian equivalent also means loyalty, which is odd considering the situation but equally appropriate. That was a ruse question; there was no second password.
Eyes Wide Shut|Who was the masked woman? Who is Amanda Curran?
Mandy (Amanda Curran), who overdosed on speedball in the movie’s start and was saved by Bill, looks to be the masked woman in the hidden party. Bill previously saved her life, so she lends a hand to him at the celebration.
Eyes Wide Shut| What does the girl whisper?
Mr. Milich’s daughter reportedly tells Bill he needs an ermine-lined cloak. This subliminal line suggests that she may be aware of the occasion that Bill is attending. It seems plausible that her father may be providing some of the attendees with the outfits, but it also suggests a larger conspiracy.
Eyes Wide Shut|What are they chanting?
The chant itself is an edited recording of Orthodox Liturgy sung by Romanian priests, which was then played in the backdrop. The goal was to produce a foreboding, dreamy tune that would heighten the tension in the moment.
Eyes Wide Shut| Who was the masked man? Who is Red Cloak?
Red Cloak, the man in the mask, is the head of the group or cult that Bill belongs to. Leon Vitali plays the part, however the identity of the character is never made clear throughout the film. The notion that it may be anyone would be one explanation for this.
Eyes Wide Shut|How did Mandy know it was Bill under the mask?
Although it’s still a little unclear, it’s reasonable to assume that Bill was just hanging out at the party. She likely recognised him in the same manner that Ziegler did, to put it another way.
Eyes Wide Shut| How did they know it was Bill?
There were numerous hints. First off, only the wealthiest members of society are invited to the meeting, and while everyone arrived in a limo, Bill did not. Even his cab driver was instructed to wait outside. Second, I could certainly see something fishy about him from a mile away. Third, given the likelihood that they are a close-knit gang, any new face or mask raises questions. Finally, he said he forgot about “the second password” although everyone in the community would have known there was never a second password in the first place.
Eyes Wide Shut|What happened to the woman? Did they kill Mandy?
Mandy, the woman, perishes. She might have been killed, or perhaps she overdosed once again and passed away. But as the movie’s title implies, Bill chooses to believe in what makes him feel safe and content rather than seeking out the truth.
Was Alice at the ritual?
No, Alice wasn’t present at the ritual party. Up until he tells her the whole truth about his two days of deliberate adultery, she is blissfully unaware that Bill is at this covert gathering.
Eyes Wide Shut|What happened to Nick Nightingale?
We are unsure. It seems possible that Nick was murdered or that he genuinely departed the area and returned to Seattle. Again, Bill is not interested in learning more; he is content with the theory that makes him happy. Bill is relieved to be able to resume his regular routine after the shocking events of the previous two days.
Eyes Wide Shut|Who put the mask on the pillow?
Kubrick likely left the exact way the mask was removed intentionally unclear. You see, the fact that we are unsure of how the mask wound up on the pillow further heightens the danger. It was put on the pillow next to his wife’s head without waking her up by someone who broke into their house while they were all asleep. It’s extremely ominous that they would have this kind of access to Bill and his family.
Did Bill cheat? Did Alice cheat?
If you only consider his acts, then the answer is that he did indeed cheat. He planned to sleep with Domino, and if he hadn’t been discovered at the party, he might have also engaged in orgy. But what exactly is a “cheat”? Is cheating only considered to occur when there is actual physical adultery? Does Alice’s desire to go away with a different man not constitute infidelity? Relationships and marriages are human constructions, and humans are wired to have irrational desires. The closest definition of not cheating would probably be the capacity to suppress those urges. Although neither Bill nor Alice meet that criteria, doing so is not a need for them to stay together.
Eyes Wide Shut|Was it a dream?
No, it wasn’t a dream, or more precisely, there isn’t a lot of evidence to suggest it was all a dream. Bill does admit. Because Alice and Bill act as if nothing occurred and their lives go on as usual, one could think it was all a dream. However, this is just the two of them deciding to disregard everything.
Marriage, Trust, and Infidelity
The film’s key themes are infidelity, trust, and marriage. Even though few individuals think to ask these questions while selecting a wedding location, the truth will eventually set in.
When Bill’s eyes are freed from the veil of trust, the world is revealed to him in a whole new way. Only an hour after his wife’s major revelation, he is given a front-row seat to a comparable situation, this time seen from a different angle. Only a few minutes before her fiancee walks into the room, Marion, the daughter of his deceased patient, declares her love for him. After that, she just dons the mask of a caring partner and continues acting normally.
Was this going to be Alice’s interaction with the naval officer?
• What if she simply informed him that she never took any action and that’s exactly how it transpired?
•But more importantly, is mental adultery any less harmful than physical adultery?
The answers to these queries are not provided at the film’s conclusion.
It’s also possible that there was never a naval officer in the first place. It’s possible that Alice was simply annoyed that Bill was being fawning over by two models while she turned down the advances of a man she found attractive. She had to maintain composure while he was gone for an hour doing whatever, at least in her eyes. Even if this scenario may not be the most likely one, it is still a possibility.
The Paradox of Choice
The “paradox of choice” is a theory that only serves to make things worse. There is a perception in the current society that partners are not necessary and that there are always other possibilities available.
However, there are always drawbacks to decisions. The entire Domino episode, in which fate steps in at the last minute to stop Bill from cheating on his wife, is the best part of this show. He visits her home the following night feeling regret over having missed his chance, only to learn (through her roommate) that she had just received an HIV diagnosis.
Now, there’s a chance that Bill would have contracted the disease if he had seized the chance. He would not have known that he avoided this danger had he not gone back to Domino’s. Who knows, he may have lived all the rest of his days regretting this lost chance without ever truly realising that it was a near call.
What would happen if Alice eloped with the naval officer? arises as a result of this. Could they have been as sad as Domino and Bill’s conceivable elopement? We’ll never know since the untraveled path will always be a mystery. The difference is that the film suggests that it might well be for the best.
In the end, having too many options makes individuals more tempted but also makes it more difficult for them to decide. However, not all opportunities are worthwhile seizing.
Ignorance Is Bliss
Did a tree indeed fall if no one heard it when it did so in the forest? Eyes Wide Shut poses several bold questions, one of which is this one.
Bill was entirely confident in the purity of his marriage and completely trusted his wife before she admitted to her mental infidelity. Once the secret was revealed, the idea that his wife might be harbouring fantasies about another guy sent him into a tailspin of uncertainty. The issue is that this adultery never even took place in the real world. She would never have told him if she had simply chosen to remain quiet.
The party at the mansion is the same way. Parties like these may occur frequently throughout the world, as do various evil actions carried out by hidden societies. Bill was aware of them, which was the only difference between that night and the last one.
So, is bliss ignorance? Well, despite his interest, it appears that Bill freely choose to return to the state of blissful ignorance towards the end of the film. How so?
• How can we know Alice’s adultery never took place in the real world? We really can’t, though. • How do we know Mandy overdosed and that Nick is back in Seattle with his family? We have to accept her word for it, and taking her word for it is a reassuring thing to do. By the end of the film, Bill was more than willing to accept this theory—not because it made sense, but rather because it was reassuring.
Some folks are depressed about all the mysteries they’ll never learn. This film’s central topic is that some secrets are best kept hidden.
Wrap Up
The box is there for a reason, despite the fact that thinking outside of it can be beneficial for you. Secrets are always fascinating, but the adage “curiosity killed the cat” has a purpose. Curiosity may be harmful, so be careful before letting the cat out of the bag.
What do you think of Eyes Wide Shut’s storyline, climax, and themes? Let’s talk about it in the comments section.
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