Circles in a Forest Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?

What Happens at the End of Circles in a Forest?

Saul Barnard grew up in a family of woodcutters. The woodcutters are scared of the elephants in the forest, but there's one elephant that never seems to threaten Saul. Tired of being exploited by wood buyers, Saul takes a stand and his father chases him away. He goes to work on the wood buyer MacDonald's wood yard, where he gets to know MacDonald's daughter, Kate, and falls in love with her. After a few years he leaves MacDonald and joins the first prospectors in the forest, searching for gold. Millwood becomes a small town with hotels and bars and houses. Kate appears again.

Regardt van den Bergh's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Arnold Vosloo (Saul Barnard)'s journey. The woodcutters are scared of the elephants in the forest, but there's one elephant that never seems to threaten Saul.

How Does Arnold Vosloo (Saul Barnard)'s Story End?

• Arnold Vosloo: Arnold Vosloo's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Ian Bannen (MacDonald): Ian Bannen's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Judi Trott (Kate MacDonald): Judi Trott's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of Circles in a Forest Mean?

Circles in a Forest's ending attempts to resolve the major plot threads, though some narrative elements involving Arnold Vosloo may feel rushed. Regardt van den Bergh's final act has been both praised for its ambition and criticized for its execution.