Agonies Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?

What Happens at the End of Agonies?

Angoroj (1964; Esperanto for "Agonies") was the first feature film to be produced entirely in Esperanto. (Jacques-Louis Mahé, a friend of Raymond Schwartz and under the pseudonym of 'Lorjak', had however already produced a silent Esperanto publicity film before World War II, titled Antaŭen! (Onwards!). At the start of the 1960s Mahé, a professional photographic and cinematic expert, invested in the production of the first fictional film in Esperanto. Using a scenario by Mahé himself, the actors of the Internacia Arta Teatro (International Arts Theatre) presented a crime story, set in the Parisian periphery of petty thieves and cheats. Other notable people who played parts in the film included Schwartz (the commissioner), Gaston Waringhien (the voice-over) and many from the environs of the contemporary Paris, including a very young Michel Duc-Goninaz.

Jacques-Louis Mahé's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Michel Duc-Goninaz (L'aide-commissaire)'s journey. (Jacques-Louis Mahé, a friend of Raymond Schwartz and under the pseudonym of 'Lorjak', had however already produced a silent Esperanto publicity film before World War II, titled Antaŭen.

How Does Michel Duc-Goninaz (L'aide-commissaire)'s Story End?

• Michel Duc-Goninaz: Michel Duc-Goninaz's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Raymond Schwartz (Le commissaire): Raymond Schwartz's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Gaston Waringhien (Narrateur): Gaston Waringhien's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of Agonies Mean?

The ending of Agonies brings the narrative to a close, though viewer reception has been mixed. The resolution of Michel Duc-Goninaz's story may not satisfy all audiences.