13 Things You Learn When You Rewatch Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

2. The Closing Shot Is Stunning

Technically, the last shot of The Empire Strikes Back is an exterior one looking in at the image above as a few ships roar past. But the real last shot, the one everybody remembers, is this one, this gorgeous image of Luke, Leia, R2, and C-3PO looking out at a stunning space vista, a great planet dominating the screen, the Millennium Falcon in amongst it. There€™s a false sense of happiness - of hope - that precedes this shot: Luke is fitted with a prosthetic arm; he and Leia share a laugh; Lando sets off to find Han and seems relaxed and confident about doing so. But this is not A New Hope, this is false hope: Luke€™s arm is still metal beneath the prostheses; Lando has no idea if he€™ll find Han in time; and, crucially, Luke and Leia share an awkward moment, missing each other€™s concerned glances before settling on an unconvincing smile as the camera swings round to show the great unknown, with our heroes looking out into uncertainty, into a galaxy they can€™t comprehend, one in which Han could be dead and hopes have been dashed and all the stars can do is shine back, beautiful and ambivalent.
Contributor
Contributor

No-one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low?