Green Snake — Ending Explained

The major plot twist of Green Snake is the revelation of the masked man's true identity. Throughout the film, he is a mysterious figure with amnesia who bears a resemblance to Blanca. Verta develops a close bond with him, and at one point, it is revealed that his mask, which was given to him by the Ox-Head leader, is a fake designed to manipulate him. However, the ultimate truth is that he is a reincarnation of Blanca. This is confirmed at the end of the film when Verta combines his bone flute with the broken pieces of Blanca's hairpin, and they magically merge to form a complete hairpin. This revelation re-contextualizes his actions throughout the film, showing that his desire to protect Verta was a subconscious manifestation of their sisterly bond. His sacrifice to ensure Verta's escape from Asuraville becomes even more poignant, as it is Blanca, in a different form, once again giving everything for her sister.

The film's ending sees Verta escape Asuraville and arrive in the modern human world, a thousand years after she was first trapped. She finds the Leifeng Pagoda has been turned into a museum. After restoring the hairpin, a woman's voice calls her name, and she turns to see Blanca, presumably in her newest reincarnation. This ending provides a hopeful resolution to Verta's long and arduous journey, finally reuniting the two sisters.

While the film's ending suggests that the masked man is a reincarnation of Blanca, some viewers have offered alternative interpretations. One theory is that the masked man is actually Blanca's son, which would add a different layer to his connection with Verta. However, this is largely contradicted by the film's own visual cues, such as the masked man's face resembling Blanca's and the magical connection between the bone flute and her hairpin.

Another area of interpretation revolves around the relationship between Verta and Blanca. Some viewers have read a romantic subtext in their intense bond, suggesting that Verta's obsession with Blanca goes beyond sisterly love. This interpretation is supported by the fact that they are not biological sisters but rather 'martial sisters' who trained together. The film's choice to have Blanca reincarnate as a male figure that Verta develops feelings for can be seen as a way to explore this romantic connection while navigating censorship.