I give this movie only 8 stars because I think for many people, they did not get the ending--as I see it. And frankly the ending is sort of critical given the "math" theme throughout the film.
Many people have commented that the ending doesn't matter as the movie highlights human nature/racism/etc etc.
The ending does matter as the theme throughout the movie is binary-- good/bad; truth/falsehood; empathy/rule-following, etc. The film writer uses math throughout the movie to make the point because math too, is binary--you either have the right answer or you don't! Here is my take on the ending.
The student comes back to school and won't leave her classroom because (by deduction) he realizes that his mother IS GUILTY. Several indications-- the opening scene when he proves that the .001 difference between .999 and 1.0 is actually irrelevant. They are equal. (he does an equation to show this) In the movie, we have .999 "evidence" of the mother's guilt with the video and opportunity, etc.
Secondly, when the student comes back to school despite being expelled it is because he knows the teacher is actually correct and she is "truth". And we see a tear dropping down his cheek.
Third, when his cell phone is ringing, most likely his mother, he refuses to answer it. We can interpret this as home no longer being his sanctuary. After having zealously defended his mother, now he is ignoring her. Something has changed.
And lastly, he figures out the Rubik cube which again, is math which is binary--right or wrong/ truth or falsehood. The Rubik cube is solved by algorithms, and most likely, metaphorically speaking --the pieces fall into place at home and he realizes his mother did steal the money.
Subplot-- perhaps the mother did not have the money needed for the class trip.
Many people have commented that the ending doesn't matter as the movie highlights human nature/racism/etc etc.
The ending does matter as the theme throughout the movie is binary-- good/bad; truth/falsehood; empathy/rule-following, etc. The film writer uses math throughout the movie to make the point because math too, is binary--you either have the right answer or you don't! Here is my take on the ending.
The student comes back to school and won't leave her classroom because (by deduction) he realizes that his mother IS GUILTY. Several indications-- the opening scene when he proves that the .001 difference between .999 and 1.0 is actually irrelevant. They are equal. (he does an equation to show this) In the movie, we have .999 "evidence" of the mother's guilt with the video and opportunity, etc.
Secondly, when the student comes back to school despite being expelled it is because he knows the teacher is actually correct and she is "truth". And we see a tear dropping down his cheek.
Third, when his cell phone is ringing, most likely his mother, he refuses to answer it. We can interpret this as home no longer being his sanctuary. After having zealously defended his mother, now he is ignoring her. Something has changed.
And lastly, he figures out the Rubik cube which again, is math which is binary--right or wrong/ truth or falsehood. The Rubik cube is solved by algorithms, and most likely, metaphorically speaking --the pieces fall into place at home and he realizes his mother did steal the money.
Subplot-- perhaps the mother did not have the money needed for the class trip.