August Rush : Are we supposed to believe Louis knew August was his son

at the end of the movie? I don't know how he would know that. I mean obviously he would have recognized him from when they were in the park playing their guitars together. I don't know- maybe he saw the way Lyla was looking at him and figured it out.

Why are we supposed to believe he thought that. He could've also be thinking, wow, the kid wasn't lying.

planes crash., and apparantly clowns kill.

Or even if he didn't figure it out then, they'd all meet up and figure it out eventually.

I think AlyssaHilary had it right in that Louis was just amazed that this was the concert that the kid he had met earlier was referring to (Louis probably thought it was just a little receital or something).

Listen to one of the lines at the beginning of the movie. Since I dont have it in front of me right this minute, I will paraphrase it a bit. August felt that the music he heard came from his mother and father. If he learned how to play it, they would find him and know that he was their son. The end of the movie fulfills his belief. Louis looks at Lila and then at August and nods. I believe he knows the truth at that point. Earlier in the movie when Louis meets August in the park, I believe they "felt" some sort of connection but were unable to know what it was at that time and were unable to pursue any feelings as well. There was an expression on Augusts face that showed a certain hurt and emptiness as Louis walked away. Louis seemed to feel "drawn' to august as well, but could not understand what it was about at the time. I found this a very emotional scene. and it reveals that there was some sort of connection beyond what WE, the viewer, are aware of.

That is an excellent response, Starduster, and fits in perfectly with Louis's and August's first meeting. It just goes to show the connection that music had in the film.


ALL HAIL THE HIGH QUEEN!!!!!

huh. i think you just validated the one part of the movie ive really disliked for years. i, along with most people, felt that the ending was rushed, but the way you just explained it actually makes it a perfect ending. i think ive been appreciating most of the movie on an emotional level, rather than a logical one. I dont think a kid with no musical training could pick up music the way he did, prodigy or no. i think the "music will lead me to my parents" bit makes so sense, ON A LOGICAL LEVEL. but on an emotional level, i always could just tell myself "shut up and end enjoy the movie. it doesnt need to make sense to be amazing. and the theme of the music leading his way ON AN EMOTIONAL LEVEL, is honestly a beautiful thing. but i always unconsciously threw that, the thing that makes me love 95% of this movie, out the window when it came to the ending. and with how you explained it, it brings it all full circle

This is a modern "Oliver Twist" fairytale.

Since it's a fairytale, I don't question the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How as long as it's heart-warming, and it is.


"Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously.." - P&P

The movie had subtle supernatural implications, what is sometimes called magical realism. It established that the kid's music literally does have the power to draw his parents toward him. Whether they know it consciously is open to interpretation, however. Remember, Louis runs toward the concert only after he sees Lyla's name on the roster, not after he sees the kid's name. But he does realize that it's the same kid he met earlier who he felt a connection with, and it is possible that he puts two and two together, based on the kid's physical resemblance to him, their shared musical abilities, and the fact that the kid is performing at the same show as Lyla. Whether Louis does figure this out or not is never explained, but one way or another we know he will soon learn the truth.

I don't think he knew. That maybe just what we as an audience wanted to think. Have wondered the same thing myself. But due to the fact that they met in the park and he had given August the advice about not quiting on his music and August telling him that he wasn't able to go..he was smiling because the kid took his advice. Obviously the Lyla knew that was their son. :-)

I'd rather think that of course, he knew. His own heart told him.

I think I am taking all of this rather well.

I think when Louis takes Lyla's hand and she kind of laughs and looks at August, that's when he knows it's his son.

I re-watched this film yesterday and i also wondered if Louis knew, i believe from watching it yesterday that he did. The moment Lila laughs and is holding his hand, Louis has a look and i think it signifys (spelling mistake?!) that he knew Evan / August was his son. It's probally a shock (for obvious reasons - he has a son) but also that it's the child he played in the park with. He kept looking back when walking away, and now maybe udnerstanbds why.

I don't believe he knew he was his son at the end of the movie. He just knew 'August' as the little boy he'd met in Washington Square earlier in the day. He had told him he was supposed to be playing a concert but couldn't go.

I believe Louis admired him for the great guitar player he was. You have to remember that Louis didn't even know Layla was pregnant.

I think he knew that August was his son exactly because of the reasons already stated in this thread but also, if you re-watch the movie, you'll notice that the very first song Louis sings to Lyla is incorporated into August's Rhapsody (played by NY Philharmonic at the end).
When Louis and Lyla are walking towards the stage, they both stop because they recognize the tune of "their" song being played by the orchestra. I think it's at this moment when August 'calls' his father (so to speak) through his music and lets him know that he is his son.

Woah- I just saw this movie for the first time tonight. That part of the song they heard August play is the exact same as the tune Louis sang to Lyla on the roof towards the beginning? If that's the case, that makes even more sense. That's so neat and a really beautiful thing.

I do not think that he recognized August as his son. All he cared about was Lyla.

The film went for an emotional finish but really how would Louis know that was his son. Even Lyla could not be sure he was her son.

It's that man again!!

I think the implication is after the concert Lyla tells Louis the truth about who August is and than the three of them live happily ever after