The Man Who Cried

Main Plot

"The Man Who Cried," directed by Sally Potter, follows the journey of a young Jewish girl named Fegele who is separated from her father in 1927 Russia. She is sent to England, where she is renamed Suzie and grows up in a foreign culture. As an adult, Suzie moves to Paris in pursuit of her dream to become a singer. There, she befriends a Russian dancer named Lola and becomes romantically involved with a gypsy horseman named Cesar. The outbreak of World War II disrupts their lives, forcing Suzie to confront her past and her identity. The film explores themes of displacement, identity, and the search for belonging amidst the backdrop of a war-torn Europe. Suzie's quest to reunite with her father and find her place in the world forms the emotional core of the narrative.

Characters

• Christina Ricci plays Suzie, a Jewish refugee searching for her father. Her journey intersects with a gypsy and an opera singer, exploring themes of love and survival.
• Cate Blanchett plays Lola, a Russian showgirl who befriends the protagonist and navigates the complexities of love and survival in 1940s Paris.
• Oleg Yankovskiy played the role of Father, the protagonist's father, whose separation from his daughter drives her quest for reunion and identity throughout the film.

Ending Explained

In the conclusion of Sally Potter's film "The Man Who Cried," the protagonist, Fegele, who has been living under the name Suzie, faces the culmination of her journey to find her father. Set against the backdrop of World War II, Suzie, a Jewish refugee, has endured numerous hardships and losses. The climax unfolds as the Nazis occupy Paris, forcing Suzie and her Romani lover, Cesar, to flee. Despite their deep connection, they are tragically separated during their escape. Suzie ultimately makes her way to America, driven by the hope of reuniting with her father. In the final scenes, she discovers that her father had emigrated to America years earlier and had been searching for her as well. The film closes on a poignant note, with Suzie finding solace in the realization that her father had never given up on her. This ending underscores themes of resilience, the enduring power of love, and the quest for identity amidst the chaos of war. The film leaves viewers with a sense of bittersweet resolution, highlighting the enduring human spirit in the face of adversity.