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The narrator (Edward Norton) can become a productive member of society again in the alternative ending of »Fight Club«
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ddp images / ddp
The Pixies' music blares as one bank building after another explodes.
Protagonist Edward Norton previously killed his alter ego Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), ending his bizarre double life.
These final scenes of the film "Fight Club" are sometimes revered as legendary.
Even if the end can be interpreted in many directions, one message seems relatively clear: With the destruction of the high-rise banks, part of consumer society will also be smashed - and something new can emerge from the anarchy.
Law and order triumph
However, this message is not well received everywhere.
The streaming service Tencent Video is now offering David Fincher's film in China with an alternative ending, reports the Guardian.
Instead of explosions, a black screen with text appears.
It states that the police were able to see through the plan and arrest all the criminals.
This also prevented the bombs from exploding.
Finally, the statement develops the film's plot even further: "After the trial, Tyler was sent to a psychiatric ward," it said about the narrator's imaginary ego.
"He was discharged from the hospital in 2012."
In this depiction, not only is destruction averted, the personality disorder of the narrator's character is also cured, so he can once again become a productive member of society.
An ending that kind of reverses the »Fight Club« message.
Hollywood studios keep releasing alternative film cuts in the hope of overcoming Chinese censorship hurdles.
However, it is not known whether the alternative Fight Club ending, in which the state triumphs, was ordered by the Chinese government or whether the producers themselves adapted the film for Chinese audiences.
Tencent did not comment on the process.
According to the Guardian, the new ending caused outrage among many Chinese viewers.
Some had seen the 1999 film in the original version through pirated copies.
Another ending is offered in the novel by Chuck Palahniuk.
Due to a bug, the bomb in it doesn't explode.
The narrator shoots himself, but wakes up in a hospital.
There it is suggested to him that his project will be continued.
maybe
