Comments on: The Confusing Movie Long Day’s Journey Into Night Explained https://taylorholmes.com/2020/03/07/the-confusing-movie-long-days-journey-into-night-explained/ Movies, Books & TV for people who like to think.. Sat, 24 Jan 2026 20:46:12 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Russell Riopelle https://taylorholmes.com/2020/03/07/the-confusing-movie-long-days-journey-into-night-explained/#comment-1194640 Sat, 24 Jan 2026 20:46:12 +0000 https://taylorholmes.com/?p=20933#comment-1194640 Ok. I will have more to add soon, but here was my experience: I first saw the 3D version in theatres in 2018, watched it till the end, walked out knowing I had seen a fantastic film but had no idea of the plot and themes of the movie, or any coherence to the story, told my wife I just saw a great film but really don’t understand what I saw. So we watched it 3 more times in the movie theaters, and here are some clues as to how to understand each scene: if Luo has black hair it is a flashback; if Luo has salt and pepper hair it is present day scene. If the female lead is wearing green it is a flashback. Anyway after watching it 3 more times in the theaters I purchased a 3D tv and also got the 3D blu ray version and have watched it another 20+ times in 3D at home. There are several other themes not mentioned above, but the above article does an excellent job of explaining a fair amount of the movie and its brilliance. Here are some other hints of what I believe was hinted at in the film: the red haired “ crazy woman” in the last 30 minutes was representing Lou’s mom, and the man she was running away with was the beekeeper neighbor of theirs. Earlier in the film when Luo visits Wildcats mom at her salon, whe mentions that Luo’s mom would’ve chosen red as her desired hair color. And previously it was mentioned that Luo’s mom would visit the neighbor beekeeper for that sweet honey of his (or something like that). I believe that was hinting at an affair she was having, and that she eventually left the family for her beekeeper lover, and that scene at the end symbolizes that. Luo asks her “Are you really running away with HIM?” And she does. But she gives Luo the watch, in hopes that he can find or rediscover true love too.

Also, regarding the infamous photo of the woman shown throughout the film, I’m 99% sure that that is a photo of Luo’s mother. In the flashback scene where Luo first shows that photo to Wen, he says to Wen “you remind me of the woman in this photo”. And that woman was his mom. Wen eventually takes the photo, which has the Karli restaurant in the photo, and eventually when the photo comes into the possession of the female prisoner who knows Wen, she mails the photo back to the restaurant in Kaili that is shown in the photo and that is run by Luo’s father. Presumably Luo’s father hides the photo within the clock, where it is later found by Luo and jumpstarts his journey of trying to find Wen, his one true love. There are many other themes and plots running through this marvelous film, and each time I watch it I seem to uncover more mysteries. Enjoy!

]]> By: Dalibor https://taylorholmes.com/2020/03/07/the-confusing-movie-long-days-journey-into-night-explained/#comment-1194553 Sat, 30 Aug 2025 18:31:38 +0000 https://taylorholmes.com/?p=20933#comment-1194553 What Sonny added is what I noticed as well. As for the narrative, wow, I think you (OP) nailed most of it right to the beautiful conclusion.

]]> By: Sonny https://taylorholmes.com/2020/03/07/the-confusing-movie-long-days-journey-into-night-explained/#comment-1178021 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 02:14:56 +0000 https://taylorholmes.com/?p=20933#comment-1178021 You say: “She in turn gives him a symbol that hints at the hot fire of passion…a firework that ultimately tells of the impermanence even of love.” in reference to the sparkler that she gives him. However, in the film, the merchant that sells this to Wan tells her that it will only last a minute. After Luo lights it in Wan’s dressing room, they go off to the house and kiss. The camera exits without cutting and walks back to the dressing room where the sparkler is still lit. The time lapsed has been far longer than a minute. I think this is a really important detail, both as proof of the incredibility of the storytelling or to challenge your claim that their love is short-lived, as the sparkler which was once thought to be a quick hot existence has persevered for sometime and shows no sign of burning out soon.

Loved the summary and commentary!

]]> By: Suns cinema viewer 2023 https://taylorholmes.com/2020/03/07/the-confusing-movie-long-days-journey-into-night-explained/#comment-1172602 Sun, 05 Mar 2023 05:05:37 +0000 https://taylorholmes.com/?p=20933#comment-1172602 This summarizes the plot so much better than any other review I’ve found, and also captures the confusion the audience is left feeling (intentionally). Well done and thanks!

]]> By: beltran https://taylorholmes.com/2020/03/07/the-confusing-movie-long-days-journey-into-night-explained/#comment-1036084 Tue, 17 Mar 2020 07:44:15 +0000 https://taylorholmes.com/?p=20933#comment-1036084 Was kinda debating judging your review style until this but yeah I don’t get how you can give most all the movies you review a 4(with an occasional 3 mixed in there) when here you’re clearly calling it rubbish

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