Blonde

Main Plot

"Blonde," directed by Andrew Dominik, is a fictionalized biographical drama that delves into the life of Norma Jeane Baker, better known by her stage name Marilyn Monroe. The film is based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates and presents a bold and stylized interpretation of Monroe's life, exploring the split between her public persona as a glamorous movie star and her private struggles. The narrative weaves through her tumultuous childhood, marked by the absence of her father and her mother's mental health issues, which casts a long shadow over her life. As Monroe ascends to stardom, the film portrays her complex relationships with lovers and husbands, alongside her ongoing battle with her own inner demons and the pressures of fame. "Blonde" examines the impact of Hollywood's exploitative nature and how it shaped her career and personal life, leading to her tragic and untimely demise. The film is a blend of fact and fiction, using a visually striking approach to question the costs of fame and the loss of identity.

Characters

• Ana de Armas plays Norma Jeane Mortenson/Marilyn Monroe, exploring her turbulent life from troubled childhood to iconic yet troubled Hollywood star.
• Lily Fisher plays Norma Jeane's mother, Gladys, in the film. Her mental instability profoundly impacts Norma Jeane's emotional state and career trajectory.
• Julianne Nicholson plays Gladys Pearl Baker, the mentally troubled mother of Norma Jeane, whose complex relationship deeply influences her daughter's tumultuous life and career.

Ending Explained

In the conclusion of "Blonde," directed by Andrew Dominik, the film portrays the tragic final days of Marilyn Monroe, whose real name is Norma Jeane. The movie, which is a fictionalized account of her life, shows her deepening despair and isolation, despite her fame. As her mental and physical health deteriorates, Norma Jeane becomes increasingly dependent on drugs and alcohol, a dependency fueled by the pressures of her career and personal life. The ending of the film is poignant and somber. Norma Jeane, feeling overwhelmed by her loss of identity and control over her life, reflects on her past traumas and the exploitation she endured in Hollywood. In her final moments, she is depicted alone in her bedroom, symbolizing her isolation and abandonment. The film concludes with her death from a drug overdose, which is portrayed as a tragic, yet almost inevitable outcome of her tumultuous life. This conclusion serves to underscore the themes of exploitation, loss of self, and the destructive nature of fame that permeate the film.