An Invocation to the Earth Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?

What Happens at the End of An Invocation to the Earth?

Deep in the tropical rainforest of Southeast Asia, a series of incantations invoke the spirits of yore, including those of the nimble, tricksy Kancil (mouse-deer) and the ferocious Buaya (crocodile). The ancient animals enact their folkloric vendetta in a furious dance of dominance, yet long-overdue vengeance is shrouded in smoke. Meanwhile, an effigy of a tree is burning, summoning a whole other host of spectres and ancestors. Conceived during the month of the Hungry Ghost Festival in 2019, while large-scale fires were consuming the forests of Indonesia, Yeo Siew Hua’s An Invocation to the Earth confronts climate collapse through the lens of pre-colonial folktales and animistic rituals. Through spoken spells and bodily entanglements, the video conjures up the fallen environmental defenders of a region ridden with ecological threats in the hope that their spirits will be reborn once again.

Yeo Siew Hua's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Eng Kai Er (Buaya)'s journey. The ancient animals enact their folkloric vendetta in a furious dance of dominance, yet long-overdue vengeance is shrouded in smoke.

How Does Eng Kai Er (Buaya)'s Story End?

• Eng Kai Er: Eng Kai Er's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Chloe Chotrani (Kancil): Chloe Chotrani's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Zarina Muhammad ((Voice Over)): Zarina Muhammad's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of An Invocation to the Earth Mean?

The ending of An Invocation to the Earth brings the narrative to a close, though viewer reception has been mixed. The resolution of Eng Kai Er's story may not satisfy all audiences.