Is there a connection between ‘Inception’ and ‘Oppenheimer’? Christopher Nolan explains sci-fi movie’s ending after 13 years
LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK: 'Oppenheimer' is perhaps the most-anticipated film of this year, given that it is made by Christopher Nolan who is widely loved by cinephiles. Despite covering a varied set of genres in his work, Nolan has crafted an individual identity that is unique to his movies.
Recently in an interview, Nolan talked about how all his movies are connected as every new movie picks up a thread from the last. The film director also revealed that his critically acclaimed film 'Inception' might have some kind of connection to the upcoming 'Oppenheimer'.
An anti-nihilistic ending to Christopher Nolan's films
In the interview with Wired, Nolan was asked what he thought of the endings of his films. The interviewer posed the question about the ambiguity of what the ending is trying to say in his work, and whether they give out an anti-nihilistic message. He has made a war film 'Dunkirk', the Batman film 'The Dark Knight' and its sequels, along with the science fiction 'Interstellar'. Nolan's films bring up important questions which are often philosophical and quite morbid, the theme being dark and often leading to an assumed inevitable nihilist end.
But Nolan denies that his endings are actually nihilistic. He brings up the ending of 'Inception' which is often understood as sad and hopeless. According to Nolan, that is just how his film is read but that's not really what he is trying to say with the film's ending. "I mean, the end of Inception, it's exactly that," he said, referring to the anti-nihilism that the interview saw in his films. He continued, "There is a nihilistic view of that ending, right? But also, he's moved on and is with his kids."
The adverse state of the world and people in his film are present from the very initial scenes and the audience is made aware of it as well. But what the endings do is create a sort of purpose that reflects on the motivations that the characters had to survive the duration of the film.
'Oppenheimer' to continue his legacy
The upcoming Nolan film 'Oppenheimer' is another one set during war times. Based on the real-life scientist J Oppenheimer's experience as a scientist during the Second World War, the film will explore the trials and tribulations he went through when he invented the atomic bomb, the same nuclear bombs that were dropped on two Japanese cities and ended the war.
The plot of the film itself could not possibly give us any idea of a positive end to everything or even an anti-nihilistic end. But Nolan said during the interview, "The ambiguity [at the end of 'Inception'] is not an emotional ambiguity. It's an intellectual one for the audience." He might give the scientist something similar as well, as he went on to say, "It's funny, I think there is an interesting relationship between the endings of Inception and Oppenheimer to be explored. Oppenheimer's got a complicated ending. Complicated feelings."
'Oppenheimer' will be released in theaters on July 21, 2023.