There's something about ambiguity that can both intrigue me and frustrate me. It intrigues me in its possibilities, but it frustrates me in its vagueness.

I often find that ambiguity is seen by some as an effective device in storytelling, particularly in film, and I tend to find this idea confusing.

What exactly is effective about ambiguity? It seems to me that every time I am left with an ambiguous moment in watching a film (particularly at the end), the question it always asks is "what do YOU think happened?"

I often find this question to be cheap. As if the storyteller couldn't think to make a definitive point for themselves, so leave it to the viewer to come up with their own.

That is not to say I am against interpretation. Nor am I outright denying the method of ambiguity.

I just question how effective a device it is in a story.

What do you think? And are there any examples of ambiguity you find particularly effective?

Ambiguity shouldn't just be a "What do YOU think happened?" question. It should allow you to reflect on the different twists and turns a story has taken and the very different and equally valid ways many different scenes and actions can be interpreted.

Ambiguity should be complex and inspire thought and discussion, not just a lazy way to end a story without a resolution. The ambiguity should be there in the resolution, not instead of it.

The ambiguity should be there in the resolution, not instead of it.

Good point! Ambiguity can be effective if it is founded upon an intriguing story that inspires such thoughts.

But are there any good examples of this?

It can be 'lazy' and effective, say a movie like The Thing (1982), it end like that in ambiguity because they never achieve to find an ending (while working a long time on it), but it worked well enough.

>>4
Good choice! That one works quite well in accordance with the main theme(s) of the film; trust and paranoia.

Nonsense. The story had a perfectly good ending that they chose not to use.

I forgot to put 'ending that they like'. They talk about it on the commentary track.

For now, I would say effective, but only because not that many films do it.

>>7
Could be both, depends on how it's used.