Another End

{{Infobox film

| name = Another End

| image = Another End.jpg

| caption = Italian theatrical release poster

| native_name =

| director = Piero Messina

| writer = {{Plainlist|

Piero Messina
Giacomo Bendotti
Valentina Gaddi
Sebastiano Melloni

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Carlotta Calori
Francesca Cima
Nicola Giuliano
Viola Prestieri

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| cinematography = Fabrizio La Palombara

| editing = Paola Freddi

| music = Bruno Falanga

| production_companies = {{Plainlist|

}}

| distributor = Newen Connect

| released = {{Film date|2024|2|18|Berlin|2024|3|21|Italy|df=yes}}

| runtime = 129 minutes

| country = {{Plainlist|

Italy
France
United Kingdom

}}

| language = English

| gross = $233,357{{Cite Box Office Mojo |id=26749648 |title=Another End |access-date=5 September 2024}}

}}

Another End is a 2024 science fiction romance film written and directed by Piero Messina. It premiered at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on 18 February 2024, before receiving a theatrical release in Italy on 21 March 2024.

Plot

After Sal loses Zoe, the love of his life, in a car crash, he falls into deep depression. His sister Ebe, who watches her brother with growing concern, wants to help him. She works at Aeternum, a company that offers the new technology "Another End" to give the bereaved the opportunity to say goodbye to deceased loved ones in a special way. The memories and consciousness of the deceased, which are stored in the company's database, are fed into a suitable host. The grieving relatives can then interact with the loved one (in someone else's body) in one or more sessions. According to the company's motto, this is intended to enable "another end" for them. The brain of the host absorbs the memories of the deceased every time they fall asleep. They forget everything, but this process cannot be repeated indefinitely.

At first, neither Sal nor Zoe's parents want to try this method of coping with their pain. Sal blames himself for Zoe's death, as he was at the wheel in the car accident that claimed her life, and tries to kill himself with pills and alcohol. Ebe finds him in time and is able to prevent the attempt. She also manages to convince Zoe's mother to agree to Zoe's "resuscitation". Sal also finally agrees after a therapist and colleague of Ebe's tells him more about the process. However, he remains skeptical as to whether he will be able to feel a connection to "his Zoe" when she doesn't look like herself.

He recognizes Zoe in Ava's body when he follows the therapist's advice and starts an argument with her. He falls in love with her again, is happy and doesn't want to say goodbye to her. He manages to persuade Ebe to give him more time together with Zoe-Ava, even though this jeopardizes her job. However, when the program comes to an end, he doesn't want to stand idly by and watch his newfound love disappear again. He follows the host Ava to her workplace in a strip club and meets up with her several times without revealing that he knows her through the host program. In the process, he learns that Ava has lost her child and is offering herself as a host to escape the daily grind.

Since they exceeded the recommended amount of sessions, Ava seems to remember little things from Zoe's past. She finally finds out who Sal is and withdraws. Sal becomes depressed again, but then learns from Ebe that Ava has contacted her and wants to meet up with him again.{{cite web |last1=Roxborough |first1=Scott |title=Berlin: Gael Garcia Bernal, Renate Reinsve and Berenice Bejo Join Sci-Fi Drama 'Another End' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/berlin-2023-gael-garcia-bernal-renate-reinsve-berenice-bejo-sci-fi-film-another-end-1235326435/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=26 January 2024 |date=16 February 2023}} Ebe is fired from the company because she was resuscitating her brother Sal the whole time, who had already died, as Ebe couldn't handle Sal's death. The Sal/Rental Body and Zoe/Ava wake up together after spending the night together and smile.

Cast

Gael García Bernal as Sal
Renate Reinsve as Zoe / Ava
Bérénice Bejo as Ebe, Sal's sister
Olivia Williams as Juliette
Philip Rosch as Ben
Pal Aron as Doctor Doyle
Tim Daish as Karl

Production

Filming took place in Paris and Rome and was completed by February 2023.{{cite web |last1=Vivarelli |first1=Nick |title=Gael García Bernal, Renate Reinsve, Bérénice Bejo Topline Piero Messina's Sci-Fi Film 'Another End,' Newen Connect Launches Sales at EFM (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/gael-garcia-bernal-renate-reinsve-berenice-bejo-piero-messina-sci-fi-another-end-1235523552/ |website=Variety |access-date=26 January 2024 |date=16 February 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Ferraro |first1=Pietro |title=Another End: il nuovo film di Piero Messina ha terminato le riprese |url=https://www.cineblog.it/post/another-end-fine-riprese-film-piero-messina |website=Cineblog |access-date=26 January 2024 |language=it |date=23 February 2023}}

Release

The film premiered at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on 18 February 2024,{{cite web |last1=Vivarelli |first1=Nick |last2=Shafer |first2=Ellise |title=Berlin Film Festival Unveils Full Lineup: 'La Cocina' Starring Rooney Mara, 'Another End' With Gael García Bernal Among Competition Titles |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/festivals/berlin-film-festival-lineup-2024-1235868598/ |website=Variety |access-date=26 January 2024 |date=22 January 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Massoto |first1=Erick |title=Gael García Bernal Wants to Download His Wife In 'Another End' Image |url=https://collider.com/gael-garcia-bernal-another-end-image/ |website=Collider |access-date=26 January 2024 |date=22 January 2024}} before receiving a theatrical release in Italy on 21 March 2024.{{Cite The Numbers |id=Another-End-(2024-Italy) |title=Another End (2024) |access-date=5 September 2024}}