Hugo Beginning and End Scenes: Analysis

People say that it's possible to interpret an entire movie by only watching the beginning and the end scenes. While that may not be true in some cases, Martin Scorsese's 2011 film "Hugo" is certainly no exception. Although both of these scenes may have some differences, including obvious ones such as location and , there are many ways that they connect.  In the beginning, the audience is introduced to a variety of gears and gadgets turning while the scene slowly shifts into a cold, bright Paris train station sometime during winter in the early 20th century. As we pass through the station, everything begins to pick up and we start to see the citizens of Paris going on with their day with Hugo in the center of it all, which could symbolize that Hugo is the protagonist of this world and that he is about to embark on a life-changing journey. Meanwhile, during the end scene, the audience witnesses all of the characters, including Hugo, inside Papa George's house conversing and having a great time. At the very last part of the scene, we see Isabella writing a short monologue about the the story of Hugo, which shows that he has completed his journey and found his way home. The completed automaton at the very end of the film may also be symbolic of Hugo's journey coming to an end. Throughout the course of the film, Hugo's objective was to find the missing pieces of the machine and when he finally reaches his goal, the rest of the story reveals itself. Scorsese wanted to show the viewer that although things may not be clear at first, once you find what you are looking for, all will be revealed.