'The Platform' Ending Explained: Is Goreng Dead And What Does It All Mean?

"The Platform" is a dystopian allegory that explores social hierarchies, consumerism, and altruism within the confines of a vertical prison. As the film unfolds, it becomes clear that the Vertical Self-Management Center is an experiment designed to cultivate a "spontaneous sense of solidarity" among prisoners. Imoguiri, a former administrator turned inmate, reveals the administration's intention to create a system where people naturally share resources without communication.

Goreng's interpretation, however, leans towards a more sinister view. He suggests that the experiment is a tool for the ruling class to understand and control the proletariat within a harsh capitalist system. The struggle for survival in the pit is a microcosm of societal dynamics.

The conclusion sees Goreng challenging the administration's deception by sending Miharu's child, an unexpected presence in the pit, back up with a message. The child symbolizes the innocent victims of the system, and Goreng aims to expose the cruelty of those in power. The film's director, Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, emphasizes that the ending is open to interpretation. 

"We certainly do think that there has to be a better distribution of wealth, but the film is not strictly about capitalism," said Gaztelu-Urrutia. "There may be a criticism of capitalism from the beginning, but we do show that as soon as Goreng and Baharat try out socialism to convince the other prisoners to willingly share their food, they end up killing half of the people they set out to help."

"In the end, the problem arises when you try to demand everyone's collaboration, and you see that there is no big achievement by the end. Goreng does what he set out to do in bringing the panna cotta and the child down to the lowest level, but he didn't change anyone's mind about sharing the food [...] To me, that lowest level doesn't exist. Goreng is dead before he arrives, and that's just his interpretation of what he felt he had to do," the director continued.

Gaztelu-Urrutia aimed for The Platform's conclusion to be "open to interpretation, whether the plan worked and the higher-ups even care about the people in the pit." An alternate ending of was even filmed, though it was obviously scrapped in favor of the one viewers saw. "We actually did film a different ending of the girl arriving at the first level, but we took it out of the movie," said Gaztelu-Urrutia. "I'll leave what happens to your imagination."Gaztelu-Urrutia intentionally leaves the ending open to interpretation, with an alternate ending filmed but excluded, allowing viewers to contemplate the fate of the characters.