Of all the filmmakers who expected to make a film adaptation Don DeLilloschismatic novel White noise, Noah Baumbach not quite the first director that comes to mind. Although the novel’s satire of capitalism and consumerism seems to be in keeping with the dramedies Baumbach directed, the independent director has never filmed anything related to the science fiction or dystopia genres. Baumbach White noise as divisive as the original text that inspired it; his hilarious, unnerving, and oddly sentimental apocalyptic tale drew both rave reviews and harsh criticism from moviegoers and readers alike. Much of the debate revolved around how Baumbach chose to finish his adaptation.
The action takes place in 1984. White noise follows Professor Jack Gladney (Adam Driver), the first professor of “Hitler Studies”, teaching at College-On-The-Hill. Jack is married to BabetteGreta Gerwig), and both were previously divorced. They are raising a blended family of Jack Heinrich’s children (Sam Nivola) and Steffi (Max Nivola) and Babette’s daughter Denise (Raffi Cassidy), and the child they conceived together, Wilder (Henry and Dean Moore). Despite fears that his wife may be taking some substance, Jack’s life is thrown into chaos when an apocalyptic event begins to wreak havoc around the world.
While DeLillo’s 1985 novel was a companion to the absurd (and Baumbach’s film retains the setting of the time), it’s clear that he plays very differently after the pandemic. The film pays homage to the unusual structure of the novel, which causes many abrupt tonal shifts and genre changes. Here is the ending White noise explained in detail.
Apocalyptic event revealed?
In the second act of the film, the poisoning in the air causes panic around the world. A truck loaded with flammable materials crashed into a railroad car, causing a black cloud to form. Gladney’s family ran away from home for safety and ended up in a quarantine center after nearly drowning in a river. While the family is safe, Jack is warned that he was more exposed to chemical waste because he got out of the car to fill it with gas.
The chaos of the event distracted Jack from his worries about Babette’s drug abuse and his worries that their children are also obsessed with death and tragedy, as they constantly watch accident and accident news. He begins to suffer from hallucinations, fearing imminent death, and his emotions are heightened further when he discovers that Babette is having a sexual relationship with a mysterious “Mr.” Grey” (Lars Eidinger) for the use of a clinical drug known as “Dilar”.
What happens during Jack’s meeting with Mr. Grey?
As his hallucinations become more severe, Jack goes looking for Babette and Mr. Grey. His close friend Professor Murray SiskindDon Cheadle) previously gave him a survival gun while flying in the air, and he equips himself by following Mr. Gray to a motel room. He discovers that the man his wife is sleeping with is the same figure from his hallucinations.
Jack shoots Mr. Gray and plans to stage it as a suicide, but Babette unexpectedly arrives at the motel. Mr. Grey, having survived Jack’s shot, fires his pistol, wounding both Jack and Babette. Having shown his courage, Jack finally overcomes his fear of death; Mr. Gray epitomizes his fear of mortality, and in a way he has finally “surpassed” it.
What’s going on in the hospital?
After being shot, Jack and Babette are able to convince a confused Mr. Gray that he is responsible for all of their wounds. They take him to a hospital that, despite looking like a religious community, is actually run by atheist German nuns. Reflecting on their experiences, Jack and Babette forgive each other. They admit that they shared the same fear; Jack was hallucinating because he was afraid of death, and Babette took Dylar (despite knowing it didn’t work) for the same reason.
It’s an oddly heartfelt ending considering how satirical the rest of the movie is. Jack constantly tried to deny the existence of the airborne toxin out of fear, and Babette ignored her drug problems for the same reason. Having experienced a near-death experience that was simply caused by jealousy and infidelity, they realize that they have built a family that has become stronger as a result of their experiences. They hold hands as the sun rises; it’s a strangely angelic image, which again is ironic because the hospital is run by atheists.
What is the meaning of the dance number?
You’ll have to stick to the credits White noise to see the extended dance number that ends the film. As they adjust to normal life, Gladney’s family stops at the A&P grocery store they went to throughout the film. The other guests and staff begin an impromptu dance number set to LCD sound systemnew single “New Body Rhumba”; The song was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Original Song and won other awards throughout the awards season.
Like the scene in the hospital, the dance number reflects the distractions people give themselves to avoid their fears. Consumerism and capitalism give people a sense of comfort, even if they know that this system is doomed to fail (and does fail during an air crisis). By simply ignoring what happened and going back to grocery shopping, people are trying to put aside any valuable lessons they may have learned during the crisis.
The grocery store itself reflects a way of coping with death as it offers food in the face of potential famine; There is an incredibly funny scene at the beginning of the film where Jack is preparing a gourmet family dinner as the world around them collapses. The fact that the grocery store never changes is also related to Baumbach’s satire on the gaudy nature of average American life. People find solace in routine, and even the most potentially shocking things (such as Jack’s study of Adolf Hitler) are treated with the same earthiness.
Source: Collider
