My Life as a Zucchini - Ending Explained

The film’s climax involves Camille’s aunt attempting to gain custody of her solely for the state allowance. In a turning point of solidarity, Simon helps Camille hide a voice recorder in her toy boat. During a meeting with a judge, Camille plays back the recording of her aunt being verbally abusive, which foils the aunt's plan. This leads to the resolution where Officer Raymond, who has grown to love the children, officially adopts both Zucchini and Camille. The ending is bittersweet; while the two protagonists find a home, Simon and the others remain at the orphanage. However, the final letters sent by Zucchini ensure the 'forgotten' children know they are still loved, completing the film's message that family is a network of care, not just a roof over one's head.

While primarily seen as a story of hope, some critics interpret the film as a critique of the social welfare system, highlighting how luck plays a massive role in a child's fate. Another reading focuses on the unreliable narrator aspect; because Zucchini is a child, the 'accidental' nature of his mother's death and the superhero image of his father might be psychological shields he has constructed to survive the guilt and trauma of his reality. Some also view the film as a modern Dickensian tale, using the orphanage as a microcosm of a society that marginalizes the vulnerable.