Nier (2017): Ending Explained

Quick Recap

In Nier (2017), directed by Rafi Gastón, we follow Irene, an overweight high school girl passionate about cheerleading, who faces suspension from school due to her bold and unfiltered personality. As punishment, she's sentenced to two weeks of community service at a local retirement home, where she initially clashes with the elderly residents. Feeling out of place among the seniors, Irene channels her energy into a secret plan: she signs up the retirement home's residents to audition for a popular dance-themed reality show. Her goal is to demonstrate that physical "perfection" isn't a prerequisite for being "perfectly awesome," drawing from her own experiences of body-shaming and societal expectations.

As the story unfolds, Irene bonds with the quirky group of seniors, each dealing with their own regrets, physical limitations, and unfulfilled dreams. Through rehearsals filled with mishaps, laughter, and heartfelt moments, the film explores themes of self-acceptance and the value of inner strength over outward appearances. Irene's journey isn't just about the audition—it's a path to reconciling her insecurities while empowering others to reclaim their vitality in their later years. Leading into the finale, the group prepares for the big audition day, facing doubts from the retirement home staff, skeptical family members, and Irene's own fears of failure.

What Happens in the Ending

The film's climax arrives at the audition for the dance-themed reality show, where Irene and the seniors arrive in coordinated outfits pieced together from thrift finds and homemade touches, symbolizing their patchwork lives. The sequence begins with nervous anticipation backstage: Irene, sweating under the lights, rallies the group with a pep talk echoing her cheerleading roots, reminding them that "perfection is overrated—awesome is what we make it." The residents, a mix of wheelchair users, those with mobility aids, and spirited dancers from their youth, take the stage one by one in a choreographed routine adapted to their abilities—slow, joyful movements blended with bursts of energy, set to an uplifting pop track.

As they perform, the judges initially appear unimpressed, exchanging skeptical glances at the unconventional group. A pivotal mishap occurs when one senior's cane slips, causing a chain reaction of stumbles, but instead of chaos, the group improvises, turning the error into a comedic, heartfelt flourish that draws laughter and applause from the audience. Irene joins in midway, leading a cheer that incorporates the seniors' stories—flashes of their pasts intercut with the present, like faded photos coming to life. The routine ends with the entire group in a unified pose, breathless but beaming. The judges, moved by the authenticity, award them a spot in the show, praising their display of resilience. In the final scenes, Irene returns to school, reinstated and more confident, while the seniors celebrate back at the home with a impromptu dance party. The screen fades on Irene watching her new friends from afar, a subtle smile hinting at lasting change.

The Meaning Behind the Ending

The ending of Nier serves as a powerful metaphor for embracing imperfection as the true essence of human connection and achievement. The audition mishap isn't just slapstick—it's a deliberate symbol of life's unpredictability, underscoring how vulnerability can forge deeper bonds than polished facades. By succeeding through improvisation rather than flawless execution, the film critiques societal obsessions with physical ideals, particularly in media like reality shows that often prioritize aesthetics over substance. Irene's arc culminates in this realization: her "flaws"—her weight, her impulsiveness—aren't barriers but catalysts for inspiring others, reflecting broader commentary on how marginalized voices (youthful rebellion, elderly irrelevance) can disrupt and enrich the status quo.

Thematically, the finale delves into the psychology of redemption, where the seniors' participation isn't about recapturing youth but affirming their ongoing worth in a world that discards the "imperfect." The dance itself becomes a metaphor for life's rhythm—uneven, adaptive, and communal—highlighting moral complexity in how we measure success. It's not a tidy victory; the judges' approval feels earned through emotional truth, not superficial appeal, inviting viewers to question their own judgments of "perfection."

Character Arcs and Resolution

Irene's journey resolves with profound growth, transforming from a defiant teen using the seniors as a means to an end into someone who genuinely values their wisdom and shared struggles. Her initial selfishness—signing them up without full consent—evolves into empathy, as seen in her vulnerable admission during the performance about feeling "suspended" in her own life. By the end, she's not just reinstated at school but liberated from self-doubt, her cheerleading passion redirected toward uplifting others rather than seeking validation.

The seniors' arcs provide a mosaic of resolution, each finding closure in subtle ways. For instance, those haunted by lost opportunities reclaim agency through dance, their physical limitations reframed as strengths that add uniqueness to the routine. This collective resolution emphasizes intergenerational healing: Irene gains perspective on aging and resilience, while the residents rediscover joy, proving that personal growth persists across life's stages. Morally, it complicates the "savior" trope—Irene doesn't "fix" them; they mutually challenge each other's isolation, fostering a nuanced view of dependency and independence.

Alternate Interpretations

While the ending leans toward feel-good triumph, its ambiguities allow for more contemplative readings. One interpretation sees the success as bittersweet realism: the reality show's inclusion might exploit the seniors' novelty for ratings, raising questions about commodifying vulnerability in entertainment. Does their "win" truly subvert norms, or does it reinforce them by needing external approval? Another view frames the finale as Irene's internal victory alone—the external validation is secondary to her emotional breakthrough, suggesting the dance party back home is the real resolution, free from performative pressures.

A darker lens could interpret the mishap as a metaphor for inevitable decline, where improvisation masks fragility; the applause might be pity rather than genuine acclaim, commenting on societal tokenism toward the elderly and body-diverse individuals. These layers add moral complexity, inviting debate on whether true acceptance requires institutional nods or personal defiance.

Themes and Symbolism

The ending reinforces core themes of self-acceptance and the rejection of perfectionism, subverting the typical underdog narrative by centering elderly characters as equals rather than sidekicks. Symbolically, the cane slip represents societal "slips"—moments of exclusion due to age or appearance—transformed into empowerment through community. The reality show stage symbolizes broader cultural arenas where worth is judged superficially, yet the film's choice to intercut personal histories humanizes this space, commenting on how media can amplify human truths if given the chance.

Broader societal commentary emerges in the intergenerational dynamic: in an aging world, Nier posits that bridging youth and elder wisdom counters isolation, challenging ageist and ableist norms. The dance's adaptive choreography symbolizes life's moral ambiguities—no one's journey is linear, and "awesome" lies in collective adaptation, not solitary perfection.

Final Thoughts

Nier's ending works masterfully because it balances heartfelt uplift with thoughtful depth, avoiding clichés by grounding its triumphs in psychological realism and societal critique. It's a contemplative reminder that imperfection isn't a flaw but a feature of authentic living, leaving audiences with a subtle call to reevaluate their own judgments. While some might wish for more conflict in the resolution, its accessibility makes the thematic payoff resonate widely—proving, as Irene learns, that you don't need to be "perfect" to leave a lasting impact. This subtle, substantive close elevates the film into a quiet gem of character-driven storytelling.