The Ninth Gate 1999 The Dark

The Ninth Gate (1999) Deep Dive:

This video explores hidden details and interpretations of the film 'The Ninth Gate', suggesting that a deeper understanding emerges on repeat viewings.

The Nine Gates and Corso's Journey #

• The Devil's Puzzle: The film revolves around three copies of "The Nine Gates," each containing engravings; six authored by Aristid Torchia and three by Lucifer. The goal is to find all nine authentic engravings to decipher the "devil's puzzle" and gain unknown power.
• Balkan's Misconception: Boris Balkan mistakenly believes he can summon the Prince of Darkness by collecting all nine engravings and reciting the words beneath them. However, he misses the true meaning of the gates.
• Corso's Transformation: Dean Corso, initially a skeptic driven by money, transforms throughout the film, unknowingly living through the meaning of each "gate." He ultimately gains power he wasn't seeking.

The Seneza Brothers' Role #

• True Protagonists: The Seneza brothers are presented as orchestrators of the events, having solved the riddle of the Ninth Gate themselves.
• Subtle Clues and Forgery: Pedro, one of the brothers, initially mirrors Corso's smoking and glasses, then switches styles when Corso changes his own, hinting at their manipulation. They are master bookbinders capable of forging pages and engravings, and they forged the final engraving in Lyanna Tela's book.
• Apostles Peter and Paul: Corso eventually realizes the brothers are symbolic of the apostles Peter and Paul, signified by the name "Pepe Lopez" they use later.
• Password "Sissy Mama": The repeated phrase "Sissy mama" acts as a password or signal for the brothers, indicating Corso's arrival.
• Knowledge of the Fire: The forged engraving depicting the burning castle behind the Whore of Babylon suggests the brothers knew about future events, indicating their deep involvement and long-term possession of the book.
• Ancient Beings/Angels: The video suggests the brothers, like the green-eyed woman, are ancient beings or even angels, as one of them is depicted in a Lucifer-signed engraving.

The Green-Eyed Woman (The Whore of Babylon) #

• Supernatural Entity: She is identified as the "Whore of Babylon" from the Book of Revelation, possessing supernatural powers like flight and hypnotic green eyes. Her ancient age is implied by her presence in a 1666 book.
• Symbolic Vehicle: Her red Dodge Viper ("snake") is a direct reference to the seven-headed scarlet serpent of Revelation.
• A Witch with a Pact: She is a "witch" who has made a pact with the devil, as hinted by Balkan's lecture.
• Corso's Guide: She actively helps and saves Corso, guiding him toward his goal, implying she chose him early on.
• Blood Ritual: She marks Corso with her blood, a softened depiction of a cult practice, signifying her claiming him.
• The Key to the Ninth Gate: She is the key to the Ninth Gate, choosing who is worthy to receive its power.

Interpretations of Each Engraving (Corso's Lived Experiences) #

• Engraving #1: Silence is Golden: Corso initially conceals his client's identity. Lucifer's version: "No one who plays by the rules will ever reach it." Balkan fails by taking the easy path.
• Engraving #2: The Locked Door: Corso learns to choose the right path and gains knowledge, as seen when he visits Baroness Kessler.
• Engraving #3: The Chosen Word: The Seneza brothers explain the danger of going too far. Scaffolding collapses on Corso when he uncovers the truth, symbolizing danger from above. The Polansky-altered angel in Lucifer's copy is one of the Kinesisa brothers.
• Engraving #4: Fate is Not the Same for All: Corso, like a fool, ignores obstacles (enters through a window) while Balkan (the clown/jester) follows the "false path" (enters through the front door).
• Engraving #5: In Vain/Futile: The engraving contrasts an old man futilely counting gold with Death. Corso is initially driven by money; Balkan seeks immortality over wealth.
• Engraving #6: I Enrich Myself Through Death: Bernie, the bookseller, is hanged by his right leg (Lucifer's version), signifying he can't save himself and needs help. The witch guides Corso, demonstrating the need for external assistance.
• Engraving #7: The Pupil Outshines the Master: Corso, though a "hostage," outmaneuvers the book owners (Balkan, Kessler, Fargas).
• Engraving #8: Victory Belongs to the Brave: Corso experiences the "wheel of fortune" and takes a blow to the head, but is ultimately chosen.
• Engraving #9: From Darkness Comes Light: This symbolizes finding light in darkness and vice versa. The green-eyed woman is depicted, serving as the key to the ninth gate.

Numerological and Production Details #

• 666: The film's release year (1999, reversed to 666) and instances of 666 in the film (elevator, castle lock) are highlighted.
• Actor for Twins: Jose Lopez Rodiero played both Seneza brothers using motion capture; Pablo's voice was dubbed by Polansky for differentiation. He also played the two janitors.
• Iconic Lines: The film contains memorable lines (e.g., "There's nothing more reliable than a man whose loyalty can be bought for hard cash").

Director's Intentions and Unanswered Questions #

• Ambiguous Endings: Polansky's preference for ambiguous endings is noted.
• Original Vision for God and Devil: Polansky initially wanted to include silhouettes of God and the Devil guiding Corso but ran out of time.
• Underdeveloped Aspects: The video acknowledges the film's lack of immediate answers, underdeveloped plot points, and the need for viewers to actively seek out details.
• Unexplained Elements: Questions remain about Lyanna Tela's suicide, the woman's exact identity and goals, and much of the story happening off-screen.

Summary: "The Ninth Gate" is a film with a complex, ambiguous ending that reveals its full depth through re-examination of its intricate details. The true protagonists are subtly revealed to be the ancient Seneza brothers, who orchestrate events and forge crucial elements, while Boris Balkan, pursuing power through a misguided understanding, ultimately fails. Dean Corso, initially a materialistic skeptic, is unknowingly guided by the powerful, enigmatic green-eyed woman (identified as the Whore of Babylon), who marks him as chosen and helps him metaphorically live through the meanings of the nine engravings. The film uses numerology and subtle visual cues to add layers to its mystical narrative, prompting viewers to delve deeper into its hidden meanings and Polansky's original intentions, even with some unanswered questions remaining.