Warning: Contains SPOILERS for A Different Man!
A Different Manis one of themost critically acclaimed films of 2024, and here’s what happens at the ending of the movie explained, including if Oswald knows about Edward’s true identity. Sebastian Stan stars as Edward/Guy in director Aaron Schimberg’sA Different Man, with it following him as he has facial surgery for his neurofibromatosis. After being completely transformed, Edward (now posing as Guy Moratz) encounters another man with neurofibromatosis named Oswald, with Edward spending the rest ofA Different Manbeing jealous of Oswald’s likability and successes.
A lot happens inA Different Man’s ending, with Edward stalking Oswald after losing his acting job in theEdwardplay. As he approaches rock bottom, Edward storms the stage during one of Oswald’s performances, with a piece of the set falling and crushing Edward. The recovering Edward then is forced to spend a lot of time with Oswald and Ingrid, leading to a wild series of events that spans decades.The last ten minutes ofA Different Manare full of reveals as to what happened during the film’s time jump, with these being key to the movie’s true meaning.
What Happens In A Different Man’s Ending
A Stabbing, A Time Jump, & A Cult
While recovering with the help of a physical trainer, Edward moves back into the apartment next to Ingrid. Oswald now lives with Ingrid, with the trio spending a lot of time together (despite Edward’s unhappiness). One day after Ingrid and Oswald leave the apartment, Edward manages to get the jump on his physical trainer, stabbing him. Oswald returns to discover the crime, with this leading to Edward getting arrested. Edward is then forced to spend many years in jail, leading toA Different Man’s big time jump.
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After an unspecified amount of time, Edward is released from prison. He is visibly aged, signaling that decades may have passed. While walking, Oswald spots Edward and runs up to him, inviting him out to dinner. While at dinner, Oswald and Ingrid catch up with Edward, with the couple mentioning that they have kids and that they are preparing to move away and join a cult.A Different Manends with their conversation continuing, with the trio ordering food and Oswald remarking how Edward hasn’t changed a bit.
Why Oswald Calls Guy “Edward” At The Restaurant
Oswald May Know Edward’s True Identity
The biggest reveal at the end ofA Different Manis one that many viewers may have missed, as it is incredibly subtle. ThroughoutA Different Man, Ingrid and Oswald aren’t aware that Sebastian Stan’s character is Edward, with him saying that Edward is dead and that his name is Guy. Ingrid and Oswald believe this, with Oswald even calling Edward “Guy” when he sees him shortly after he is released from prison. However, while ordering food inA Different Man’s final scene, Oswald asks Sebastian Stan’s charactera surprising question, saying “What are you thinking, Edward?”
Although the line is said in a very nonchalant way, it reveals that Oswald actually knows Guy’s real identity. It isn’t known how Oswald knows that Edward has been lying to them, but this reveal completely shifts the conversation. The most likely explanation is that Edward’s true identity came out after he was arrested. Since there is no official record of a Guy Moratz, the police would have undoubtedly discovered Edward’s lie, and it wouldn’t be a stretch for this lie to have made it back to Ingrid and Oswald.
Another possibility is that Oswald knew the whole time.Edward’s obsession with Oswald and theEdwardplay makes it easy for Oswald to have put the pieces together, explaining his knowledge at the end of the film. If this is the case, the fact that Oswald continues to refer to Edward as “Guy” throughout the film only reinforces his kindness, giving Edward another reason to dislike him. The ambiguity of this line makes it impossible to fully understand, but it is the biggest puzzle piece inA Different Man’s mysterious ending.
Why Edward Stabs His Physical Trainer
Is He Defending Oswald?
The most shocking moment inA Different Mancomes when Edward stabs his physical trainer, with this being what sends Edward to jail. After Oswald and Ingrid leave the apartment, the physical trainer jokingly makes some disparaging remarks about Oswald, speculating that Ingrid is only with him because he has money. Immediately after this, Edward takes the opportunity to grab a knife and stab his trainer, with Oswald returning to discover the attack.
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Despite Edward’s resentment toward Oswald,Edward remembers what it was like to constantly be the subject of remarks like this, with the attack being the manifestation of Edward’s hate of these types of people. To Edward, the physical trainer is a proxy for everyone who treated him differently due to his facial disfigurements, with the attack finally allowing Edward to take out his anger.
Oswald & Ingrid’s Cult Proves Edward’s Folly
Edward Puts Oswald On A Pedestal
In the final scene ofA Different Man, Oswald and Ingrid mention that they have joined a cult, with this being a comedic end to their story. However, it also has massive thematic implications. ThroughoutA Different Man, Edward sees Oswald as the idealized version of himself, with him despising Oswald due to the pedestal that Edward has put him on. However, Oswald’s decision to join the cult proves that he, like everyone else, isn’t perfect. It is symbolic of Edward’s perspective on Oswald shifting while he was in prison, highlighting Edward’s major character flaw.
The Real Meaning Of A Different Man’s Ending
Is It A “Grass Is Always Greener” Story?
There are all kinds ofpotential readings ofA Different Man, but one of the most popular ones has to do with Edward’s sense of self-image. Up until Edward gets his surgeries, he is a character who believes everything in life would be good if he could just get rid of his facial disfigurements. Although his neurofibromatosis undoubtedly does come with challenges, Edward is constantly wallowing in self-pity despite receiving love from people like Ingrid. Edward is juxtaposed with Oswald, who manages to love himself and live a happy life while still living with what Edward thinks is the thing holding him back.
Edward is jealous of Oswald because Oswald is everything that Edward wants to be, even if Edward spent the first part of the movie attempting to get rid of what Oswald has.A Different Manuses Edward’s negative character arc to make the central dramatic argument that people should only focus on what they can change rather than worrying about what they can’t change. Although Oswald can’t change his face, he can change his attitude and the love he puts into the world, which is why he is happy and Edward isn’t. AsA Different Mansays, “All unhappiness in life comes from not accepting what is.”
A Different Man
Cast
A Different Man is a thriller written and directed by Aaron Schimberg and premiered in 2024. An actor named Edward attempts to make himself a more marketable actor by having significant reconstructive surgery on his face, but the results leave much to be desired. Now, having lost the role of his dreams, Edward takes extreme measures to get it back as his obsession turns dark.
