Stupendous ending! Interpretation...

Rating: 10/10 (10 May 2001)

I already wrote a general review of this and a paper as well, but after seeing the reviews describing 'Pi' as "useless confusion" and such, I thought I should help abate this confusion. To make it short, I'll just give my interpretation of the ending.
MAJOR SPOILERS!:
The ending of "Pi" is not great simply because of its use of metaphors, but because these metaphors had been a major theme throughout the movie and the ending is the perfect climax to this progressing film.

1.) The scene directly preceding Max's discovery shows him wandering the crowded streets. This is a metaphor linked to the Archimedes metaphor used by his mentor. Archimedes could not come up with a conclusion because he needed perspective - taking a bath in this case. Both Archimedes and Max were reclusive types who needed to "take a step back" in order to solve their problem. Thus, Max had to get outside, and take a walk. Although he had been outside previously, never had he for the immense amount of time in this scene - hours and hours. Yet this is only elliptically stated. The scene is in fast motion and loud music somewhat distorts Max's words. Max is repeating times. He spent nearly half a day walking around, though the scene lasted only seconds. This new perspective for the hermit Max allows him to reach pi.
2.) Max then finds Pi or "god" (look up TOE, Theory Of Everything if interested in the metaphysical underpinnings). During this discovery, he starts blurting out random numbers, a reference to earlier scenes in which the computer had discovered pi and spit out the 216 digit number. Thus, just as the computer had been, Max became completely aware of nature and conscious of himself.
3.) Upon his discovery, Max finds himself in a blank white world. There is nothing there. Ultimately, I don't think this means that there is no "god," but that it is completely void of meaning and inhumane. The void is illustrated by showing Max evaporating into the backdrop. He realizes the importance of human interaction when a flash of caressing hands are flashed into his world of whiteness. When he comes out, he is further caressed by an unseen women - most likely his neighbor. Whiteness and woman-ness are used to illustrate the emptiness and mathematical sterility of pi.

4.) Consequently, Max takes a drill to his head. A metaphor attempting to show that the search for pi is self-destructive is interwoven throughout the film: his mentor has a stroke when he continues his research on pi, Max had dreams about destroying brains after his near-pi encounters, and the fact that medicine is needed to combat the affects of said near-pi encounters. It is only in the final scene that Max realizes this, forgoes his medicine, and finally finds pi. Afterwards, the drilling represents the unwantedness of searching for pi because of its self-destruction and ultimate meaninglessness to humans.
5.) Finally, in the end Max has given up his searching, and can finally live life. He can't answer the little girl's math questings anymore and has no need to constantly repeat his theory to himself. The movie ends with him smiling. He had never smiled throughout the entire film, and moreso, had never ever seemed to be emotionally indifferent - he was always anxious and easily disturbed. The smile is a powerful piece of imagery that puts a final stamp on a great film.