Roy Cohn/Jack Smith Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?

What Happens at the End of Roy Cohn/Jack Smith?

When Jill Godmilow’s movie Roy Cohn/Jack Smith premiered at the 1994 Toronto International Film Festival, the number of AIDS-related deaths was reaching an all-time high in the United States (over 270,000). In New York City, the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic, many artists and filmmakers were grappling with the disease. While Broadway was hosting the second part of Tony Kushner’s award-winning play Angels in America, downtown New Yorkers were fondly recalling another recent production, Ron Vawter’s one-man show Roy Cohn/Jack Smith, in which the actor, who died of AIDS in April 1994, performed two monologues, first as Cohn, the conservative lawyer, and secondly, as Smith, the flamboyant experimental filmmaker—both of whom died of AIDS-related causes in the late 1980s.

Jill Godmilow's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Ron Vawter (Roy Cohn / Jack Smith)'s journey. In New York City, the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic, many artists and filmmakers were grappling with the disease.

How Does Ron Vawter (Roy Cohn / Jack Smith)'s Story End?

• Ron Vawter: Ron Vawter's arc reaches a definitive conclusion by the final act, with Jill Godmilow delivering a resolution that feels earned after the film's 1h 30m runtime.
• Coco McPherson (Chica): Coco McPherson's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.

What Does the Ending of Roy Cohn/Jack Smith Mean?

Roy Cohn/Jack Smith concludes with Jill Godmilow reinforcing the drama themes established throughout the film. The final moments with Ron Vawter leave a lasting impression — the ending is both a resolution and a statement about the story's central questions.