What Makes The Movie 'It Ends With Us' A Story That Stays With You

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When the weekend gets boring then binge-watching a series or movies on an OTT platform is always a great option. And if it's based on a best-selling novel it would be a feather in a cap. That's when I got to watch 'It Ends With Us', adapted from a book with the same name written by author Colleen Hoover which ticked both these boxes.

The Plot Of The Movie

The movie begins with Lily Bloom, the leading lady, driving home with tears in her eyes. She embraces her mother in shared grief as they mourn the recent passing of her father. While sorting through her father's belongings, Lily's mother encourages her to list five things she loved about her dad. However, at the church, Lily's blank tissue and her silence during the eulogy hint at unresolved bitterness toward her father.

Later, while reflecting on the terrace of a random building, Lily encounters a young man, Ryle, who is venting his frustration by violently kicking furniture. Embarrassed when he notices her, Ryle tries to cover it up, and their initial awkward meeting evolves into flirtation. Despite their attraction, Lily hesitates, knowing Ryle avoids commitment while she seeks committed relationships.

Their paths cross again when Lily opens her flower shop and hires Alyssa, Ryle's sister, as her assistant. Ryle pursues Lily relentlessly, and they eventually begin a relationship when he promises to commit. Amid this new romance, Lily revisits her past through her diary, reliving her first love with Atlas, a homeless boy she once cared for deeply.

When Ryle joins Lily for dinner with her mother, she is shocked to discover Atlas as the owner and head chef of the restaurant they visit. One day Ryle, while preparing breakfast for Lily, accidentally burns his hand and reacts violently, shoving her in the process. Lily is reminded of her father's abusive behaviour toward her mother but brushes it off as an accident after Ryle's apologies.

The situation escalates when Atlas notices Lily's injured forehead during a dinner at his restaurant with Ryle, Alyssa, and her husband. Atlas urges Lily to leave Ryle, but Ryle confronts them, leading to a physical altercation. Ryle then demands Lily promise never to see Atlas again. Despite Atlas giving Lily his card for help, she refuses to use it. Ryle tries to make amends by sharing his understanding of her trauma from her father's abuse and vows never to hurt her again.

Their relationship seems to mend, and Ryle proposes to Lily at the hospital after Alyssa gives birth to her child. Overjoyed, Lily accepts his proposal, but that's when all hell breaks loose in her life.

Photo Credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment

What the Movie Depicts

At first glance, the movie will seem like a typical whirlwind romance with nothing unique to offer. When Lily recognizes Atlas at the restaurant and privately talks to him, it will seem like the story is headed towards a classic love triangle. However, what follows reveals a deeper, more sensitive narrative.

When Ryle burned his hand and pushed Lily, it seemed accidental, but her reaction hinted at a deeper impact. Her thoughts flashed back to her father's abuse towards her mother, and I wondered why she was drawing this comparison. The story progresses to show Ryle's increasing anger and controlling behaviour, especially when he discovers Atlas's contact card with Lily.

Another "accident" happens when Lily falls down the stairs while trying to calm Ryle, and he later harasses her after an interview reveals that both her flower shop and Atlas's restaurant are recognized as top franchises. The restaurant's name, Roots, and Lily's heart-shaped tattoo further connect to Atlas, which enrages Ryle. When he asks if Lily still loves Atlas, her uncertain reply triggers his violent outburst, where he forces himself on her.

Lily eventually realises that none of these incidents were accidents. The burn, the fall, and the assault were all results of Ryle's bouts of uncontrollable rage. She acknowledges that she had been fooling herself to preserve the relationship, mirroring her mother's tolerance of abuse. Seeking help from Atlas, Lily begins her healing journey and discovers she is pregnant with Ryle's child. When she confronts her mother about staying with her abusive father, her mother confesses that love made leaving difficult.

Despite everything, Lily allows Ryle to be part of the pregnancy, and they name their daughter Emmy after Ryle's late brother, Emerson, whose accidental death contributed to Ryle's trauma. She then asks Ryle for divorce to which he pleads with her not to do so. When Lily asks him what he would advise their daughter if her partner hurt or lied to her as he did. Ryle, emotional, admits he would beg her to leave him. Then he looks at both of them and leaves.

Lily then holds Emmy in her arms, smiles at her, and declares, "It Ends With Us," signifying her determination to break the chain of abuse that began with her mom, which will stop with her and ensures a better future for her daughter.

In Conclusion

Though the movie sheds light on domestic abuse and how one should not tolerate it, the relationship between old flames Atlas and Lily also has an interesting angle. It's kind of unique to see a girl falling in love with a guy who is homeless, and how a relationship grows between them as she feeds and clothes him.

The twist in the end is when she seeks help from him after domestic abuse and he does the same for her. When she says, "If I can't take care of myself, how am I supposed to take care of the baby?" It is revealed that Atlas wanted to kill himself when he stayed at an abandoned house opposite to hers, but as soon as he sees her, he decides he can't. He encourages her by saying that she encouraged him to keep his life, so if she did the same thing, everything would be ok.

When I sat to watch this movie, I didn't expect it would be centred on domestic abuse. A handsome leading man, a beautiful leading lady and their blooming romance, I thought I was in for another happily ever after story but it caught me off guard. Both leading characters have a trauma in their life and we feel a slight need for Lily to forgive him in the end, especially when he says he will get help. But her questions in the end, do make sense. What if it happens to their daughter?

Even the friendship between Alyssa and Lily has to be talked about. Because being Ryle's sister, she boldly advises her not to go back to him after he physically abuses her. Not many would do that.

Not just a bittersweet love story about Lily and Ryle, this movie talks about the scars left in her mind by her father's abuse, the innocence of her bond with Atlas, and the transformative journey of motherhood. Ultimately, it's about breaking cycles, finding strength, and ensuring a brighter legacy for the next generation. "It Ends With Us" isn't just Lily's declaration, it's a powerful message for anyone fighting to rewrite their story.