Film Theory: Finding Nemo Doesn't Have A Happy Ending...

5. The Five Stages Of Grief

With this imaginary Nemo, however, comes some suspension of disbelief. Of course, Nemo interacts with other characters in the movie, so there’s an instant counter argument to the theory born from that alone.

It has to be believed that these conversations are sympathetic to the other inhabitants of the underwater town pitying Marlin and playing along, or simply, in the way of Fight Club or Black Swan, created in Marlin’s head to rationalise the situation. The theory is one that best lends itself as a lens to look at the film through - a certain duality of intent rather than a fixed provable ulterior narrative.

To begin then, Marlin’s own experience of the world around him is seen through five different steps as the film goes on, following the five stages of grief that have conjured this imaginary son for him to look after. These are as follows: 1. Denial, 2. Anger, 3. Bargaining, 4. Depression, and 5. Acceptance. Marlin has been suffering from this Denial since the barracuda attack, and continues to entrap himself within it by being constantly doubtful and protective of his son.

It’s only when seeing the other fish-children where he lives reach the age that Nemo should be attending school that Marlin’s mind begins to process the trauma he’s been through.