The Prestige Movie Ending Explained

The Prestige revolves around the intense rivalry between two magicians, Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale), set against the backdrop of late 19th-century London. The narrative is intricately woven and told through the perspectives of both characters.

The movie consistently uses the metaphor of a magic trick to structure its narrative. A magic trick typically consists of three parts: “The Pledge," where the magician shows something ordinary; "The Turn," where the ordinary is transformed into something extraordinary; and "The Prestige," where the extraordinary is brought back, seemingly from nowhere.

Throughout the film, Borden's magic trick "The Transported Man" is a central focus. In this trick, Borden appears to teleport across the stage, leaving the audience baffled. The secret behind this trick is eventually revealed – Borden has been living a double life. He has an identical twin, and they take turns playing the role of Alfred Borden. This revelation explains how Borden is able to perform the seemingly impossible trick.

Angier becomes obsessed with discovering the secret behind Borden's trick. He goes to great lengths, including using a double named Gerald Root to mimic Borden's act. However, Angier is unsatisfied with this solution and desires to uncover the real secret.

Angier seeks the help of Nikola Tesla (played by David Bowie), a renowned inventor, to create a machine that will allow him to perform the ultimate magic trick – "The Real Transported Man." Tesla creates a device called "The Tesla Machine" that can duplicate living organisms. Angier uses this machine to clone himself every time he performs the trick, creating a perfect duplicate that appears some distance away.

The revelation that each time Angier performs "The Real Transported Man," he is actually creating a clone of himself raises moral and ethical questions. Each clone believes itself to be the original Angier, and the duplicates face a grim fate as they drown in a water tank beneath the stage.

As Angier continues to perform the trick, he accumulates a room full of drowned clones. This raises the stakes and adds a dark layer to the story. The cost of Angier's quest for the perfect magic trick is the sacrifice of numerous innocent lives, each unaware of their impending demise.

In contrast to Angier, Borden's sacrifice is personal and not hidden behind the curtains of magic. Throughout the film, it is revealed that Borden has been living with the burden of having a twin. This double life strains his relationships, leading to the tragic death of his wife Sarah and later, his lover Olivia. Borden's sacrifice is the personal toll he pays for the pursuit of his craft.

The rivalry between Angier and Borden reaches its climax when Angier captures Borden and brings him to the warehouse where the clones are stored. Angier wants Borden to acknowledge him as the superior magician and to reveal the secret of "The Transported Man." However, Borden remains defiant, refusing to break the magician's code and reveal the secrets of his tricks.

The film builds towards its final revelation, the ultimate "Prestige." Angier performs "The Real Transported Man" one last time, creating a duplicate. However, this time, he sabotages the machine so that the duplicate, instead of drowning in the tank, appears alive and well in the balcony above. Angier appears to have achieved the perfect magic trick – surviving the ordeal and leaving the audience in awe.

In a twist, Borden, who is still held captive, reveals that he too has a twin. The Borden who has been captured is one of the twins, and the other Borden is in the audience. This revelation shocks Angier and the audience, as it becomes clear that Borden has been living the same sacrifice as Angier – a life of constant deception and the loss of loved ones.

As Angier's duplicate in the balcony reveals itself to be the real Angier, the captured Angier realizes the extent of Borden's sacrifice. Borden's life was not just about magic tricks; it was about enduring the consequences of those tricks. In contrast, Angier's pursuit of the ultimate trick involved sacrificing others to achieve his own immortality.

The film ends with Angier's bitter realization that Borden's sacrifice was genuine, whereas Angier's success came at the cost of numerous lives. Borden's life of sacrifice is portrayed as more honorable, even though it leads to his tragic end.

The movie concludes with the consequences of the characters' choices. Borden is hanged for the murder of Angier, and his daughter is left with a profound sense of loss. Angier's legacy is tarnished by the revelation of his morally questionable actions.

The Prestige explores themes of sacrifice, obsession, rivalry, and the blurred lines between good and evil. The film challenges the audience to question the morality of the characters and the choices they make in the pursuit of their goals.

In the end, The Prestige delivers a mind-bending and thought-provoking conclusion that challenges traditional storytelling norms. The intricate layers of the narrative, combined with the ethical dilemmas faced by the characters, make for a compelling and memorable ending.