Maria Martinez Bayona’s feature directorial debut, The End of It, presents a creepily plausible near-future sci-fi comedy-drama starring Rebecca Hall, Gael García Bernal, and Noomi Rapace. While the film boasts striking visuals and a stellar lead performance, its overstretched 142-minute runtime and uneven satire slightly dampen the third act of this thought-provoking Cannes premiere.

The Cannes Film Festival Premiere of The End of It marks the feature debut for Catalan writer-director Maria Martinez Bayona. Anchored by the ever-magnetic Rebecca Hall (The Man I Love), this tonally irregular yet consistently thoughtful sci-fi comedy-drama presents a creepily plausible near future. With a narrative resonant of contemporary headlines and an elegant, underplayed production design, the film establishes a compelling premise that shifts between philosophical drama and biting satire.

Venue: Cannes Film Festival (Cannes Premiere)
Runtime: 2 hours 22 minutes (142 minutes)
Director/Screenwriter: Maria Martinez Bayona
Main Cast: Rebecca Hall, Gael García Bernal, Noomi Rapace, Beanie Feldstein

Plot Overview and World-Building

In this The End of It movie review, the narrative introduces us to a select, wealthy echelon of society that has achieved a state of permanent, hedonistic ennui. Thanks to sophisticated blood dialysis techniques and vaguely defined high-tech wizardry, elite citizens can halt the aging process.

The story focuses on Claire (Rebecca Hall), a 250-year-old artist who maintains the appearance of an elegant woman in her thirties. In this future, major climate disasters have seemingly been averted—or at least, the characters reside in a cushy, protected enclave. Disease is entirely curable, and failing organs or bones can be swapped out like mechanical car parts.

Consequently, mortality only occurs via freak accidents or elective suicide. However, the dystopian catch to this immortality gig is strict population control: permission to birth a child is only granted when someone else dies.

On her 250th birthday, Claire experiences an acute case of anhedonia. Having just replaced her final natural bone, she takes stock of her life. Once a celebrated avant-garde artist, she now designs commercial jewelry—a lucrative but intellectually unfulfilling pursuit. Weary of her endless existence, Claire decides to halt her daily life-extending treatments and let nature take its course. As grey hairs and signs of aging emerge, her decision sends shockwaves through her small social circle.

Main Cast and Character Portrayals

The strength of the film relies heavily on The End of It cast performance, led by an exceptional turn from Rebecca Hall.

• Rebecca Hall (Claire): Hall endows Claire with a spiky wit and charisma, grounding a character who could otherwise seem unsympathetic. Her performance in the final minutes carries immense emotional weight and genuine pathos.
• Gael García Bernal (Diego): Playing Claire’s long-term husband, Bernal effectively portrays a partner unable to comprehend Claire’s existential fatigue, viewing her choice as a deeply personal rejection.
• Beanie Feldstein (Sarah): As Claire’s relentlessly perky android personal assistant, Feldstein brings comic relief. Programmed with a prime directive to keep Claire alive, Sarah acts like a humanoid golden retriever, struggling to compute her mistress’s death wish while remaining fiercely loyal.
• Noomi Rapace (Martha): Appearing suddenly after a 50-year estrangement, Claire’s 180-year-old daughter Martha seems oddly at peace with the suicide plan. It is soon revealed that Martha views her mother’s death as a bureaucratic opportunity to claim a breeding slot, even bringing along an android practice baby that resembles a 23rd-century Tamagotchi.

Editor’s Note on Casting: The peevish sparring between the mother and daughter receives an extra comedic layer due to the actors’ real-life ages, as Hall is actually three years younger than Rapace. They perfectly capture a stagnant, adolescent family dynamic.

Direction, Screenplay, and Pacing

As a director, Maria Martinez Bayona showcases a strong visual sensibility and excellent skill in guiding her actors. However, The End of It web series review or film analysis must note that the screenplay falters in its pacing.

Running an attenuated 142 minutes, the film feels overstretched. The script struggles to navigate its endgame, occasionally erupting with jarring flashes of overegged, spongy satire.

The narrative attempts to critique artistic pretension by having Claire turn her death into a public artistic spectacle to secure posthumous fame, but these satirical jabs rarely land their targets. A seemingly limited budget prevents a broader look at the wider dystopian society, making Claire’s elective death feel like an act of vainglorious selfishness from an inherently unlikable protagonist.

Technical Aspects: Cinematography, Music, and Wardrobe

• Cinematography: Director of Photography Andres Arochi Tinajero utilizes the stark, natural environment of the Canary Islands to perfection. The region’s searing, Tropic-of-Cancer-adjacent sunlight, freakish black volcanic soil, and sleek mid-century-modernist architecture beautifully reflect the film’s cold, luxurious future.
• Costume Design: Costume designer Pau Auli delivers witty, covetable wardrobes. The minimalist yet textured outfits worn by the elite birthday guests evoke a high-fashion blend of Comme des Garçons and Cos, emphasizing precise tailoring and a subtle color palette.
• Music and Sound: The score by Paloma Penarrubia and the sound design by Gisle Tveito and Yvonne Stenberg subtly complement the atmospheric, desultory mood of the final acts.

The End of It Movie Review: Overall Verdict

While The End of It suffers from an overextended runtime and a narrative that loses steam in its final act, the technical execution and lead performances consistently add value. The shocking final scene packs a sufficient emotional wallop to leave audiences thoroughly enervated. Though it may face hurdles at the traditional box office, its intriguing premise ensures it will find a substantial audience on streaming platforms. It marks a promising, visually commanding debut for Maria Martinez Bayona.

Specifications and Full Credits

• Venue: Cannes Film Festival (Cannes Premiere)
• Production Companies: The Mediapro Studio, BBC Film, Barreling Wave Pictures, BFI UK Global Screen Fund, Elation Pictures, Fasten Films, Cobalt Films, Mediapro Canarias, Eye Eye Pictures, etc.
• Director/Screenwriter: Maria Martinez Bayona
• Producers: Kamilla Hodol, Emilie Jouffroy, Adria Mones
• Cinematographer: Andres Arochi Tinajero
• Production Designer: Lili Lea Abraham
• Costume Designer: Pau Auli
• Editor: Tania Reddin
• Composer: Paloma Penarrubia

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on The End of It Movie Review

What is the main plot of The End of It?

The End of It follows Claire, a 250-year-old artist living in a near-future society where life-extending technologies grant near-immortality to the elite. Growing weary of her endless existence and experiencing severe existential boredom, Claire decides to halt her treatments and choose her own death, sparking varied reactions from her husband, daughter, and android assistant.

Who stars in The End of It?

The movie stars Rebecca Hall as Claire, Gael García Bernal as her husband Diego, Noomi Rapace as her daughter Martha, and Beanie Feldstein as her android assistant Sarah.

Where was The End of It filmed?

The production was primarily filmed on location in the Canary Islands, utilizing its distinct volcanic landscapes, intense sunlight, and mid-century modernist architecture to depict its futuristic setting.

What is the runtime of the film?

The film has a total running time of 2 hours and 22 minutes (142 minutes).

Disclaimer on The End of It Movie Review

This article is a critical review of the film ‘The End of It’ based on its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. The views expressed herein belong solely to the analysis of the cinematic work and its production elements. Release dates and streaming availability may vary by region.

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