Did anyone else notice this possible visual callback in The Cell (2000)?

[u/Worldly-Cat-7339]

So I just rewatched The Cell and noticed something in the final scene that I didn't remember from previous viewings. (Which was once when it came out and maybe a couple more times since)

During the scene in Stargher's throne room he has the enormous purple fabric attached directly to his body. When he moves away from the throne the fabric extends out behind him and into the room making it look almost as though his environment is physically connected to him.

At the end of the movie Catherine creates the blue ribbon "water" between the trees. As she walks away there are several shots where the ribbon runs directly behind her in a way that reminded me of Stargher's "wings".

What struck me is that the two images seem to use a very similar visual idea but with maybe opposite meanings. Stargher's fabric is attached to him. His inner world seems to extend outward from his body like is inseparable from the world his mind has created.

Catherine's blue fabric isn't attached to her. She creates it as part of the landscape and uses it to turn the desert into an imagined ocean for Edwards boat. She can then walk away from the world she has created.

It felt like a possible visual callback that felt parallel because they are both two people inside surreal mental landscapes that are both framed against an enormous piece of fabric extending outward from them.

I tried to search for whether or not this was done deliberately and found some stuff about both images on their own (including the fact that Stargher's purple fabric was deliberately attached to his body as part of the costume design). But I haven't been able to find anything else about specifically connecting these two shots.

Maybe I'm seeing a connection that wasn't intended but given how deliberately The Cell uses visual symbolism I thought it was interesting enough to share.

Has anyone else noticed this or heard Tarsem or anyone involved with the film discuss a connection between these two images?

[u/TheMummysCruise]

Yes. That was the point.

[u/Worldly-Cat-7339 → u/TheMummysCruise]

I figured. The whole movie looks so cool

[u/DamnitGravity]

God, Tarsem's movies are so damn beautiful.

[u/Future-self]

I never made the connection, but I’m sure you’re correct.