‘Ballad of a Small Player’ Ending, Explained

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Netflix’s Ballad of a Small Player had a lot going for it. The director, Edward Berger, was coming off successful films like All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave, which were praised by critics, audiences, and award shows. The lead actor, Colin Farrell, is a highly respected performer known for consistently delivering strong performances. Plus, the film was based on a well-regarded 2014 novel by Lawrence Osborne. It seemed like a safe bet for Netflix to support Berger and Farrell’s version of this strange and suspenseful story about a gambling addiction.

Despite the talent involved, the film Ballad of a Small Player isn’t performing as well as hoped. It has a low score on Rotten Tomatoes and isn’t popular with viewers on Letterboxd, effectively ending its chances at an Oscar. While Colin Farrell delivers a strong performance, the story might have worked better as a book—and even then, it leaves a lot open to interpretation. If you’ve seen the film and are confused, we’ve compiled some answers to your questions.

Colin Farrell’s Lord Doyle Is an Unreliable Narrator


Netflix

Set in the bustling casino scene of Macau, China, Ballad of a Small Player introduces a man who appears to be Lord Doyle. He’s living lavishly at a high-end hotel, but is unable to pay his bill. His room is messy with clothes and empty bottles, suggesting a life dedicated to drinking, eating, and gambling. Though he appears rough around the edges, Lord Doyle desperately tries to maintain an air of sophistication. He makes large bets but acts as if money isn’t a concern, and it quickly becomes apparent that he’s putting on a show.

The truth is revealed when Tilda Swinton’s character, Cynthia Blithe, appears and secretly photographs him. She’s a private investigator hired to find him and get back the money he stole. It turns out ‘Lord Doyle’ isn’t a nobleman at all, but a former lawyer who swindled elderly people out of their life savings before running off to gamble it all away.

Doyle, whose real name is Riley, isn’t actually rich or from nobility, but he pretends to be. This isn’t a surprising plot twist, but rather a way the film highlights his flawed character. His attempts at appearing upper-class are over-the-top – think gaudy velvet jackets and bright yellow gloves, supposedly for luck. He favors champagne, a drink associated with wealth, and pretends to be a skilled baccarat player, despite the game being purely chance. However, Doyle does recognize his self-destructive tendencies. He indulges in excessive amounts of food and alcohol, but his true compulsion isn’t the substances themselves – it’s the thrill of being in a precarious situation. He seems to actively want to lose.

By the time we encounter Doyle, he’s already deeply in debt – over $100,000, and that’s just what we’re aware of. He’s been given until Tuesday to pay up, but he immediately spends any money he gets on luxuries like champagne, lobster, and gambling. The story starts as a desperate attempt to settle his debts and avoid serious trouble. However, much like the original book, the film explores themes that go beyond just one man’s personal struggles.

The Ending of ‘Ballad of a Small Player,’ Explained

Its Ambiguity Is a Statement About Addiction


Netflix

Around the middle of Ballad of a Small Player, Doyle finds himself at an upscale restaurant, overeating while he contemplates his next steps. In the book, he thinks about pretending to have a heart attack, but in the movie, he collapses as if actually suffering one. Luckily, Dao Ming, a compassionate loan shark connected to the casinos Doyle visits, is there to help. She covers his bill and secretly takes him to a small waterfront cabin, where she cares for him until he recovers.

Dao Ming plays a key role by introducing Doyle to the beliefs surrounding the Hungry Ghost Festival and its mythology. The story takes place during the festival, and she explains that the afterlife isn’t just about heaven and hell. Instead, souls of those struggling with addiction, like Doyle, are believed to enter a realm where they endlessly seek satisfaction but find only emptiness. Doyle also identifies himself as a “gweilo,” meaning “foreign ghost” – a term for non-Chinese visitors, particularly gambling tourists, who feel isolated and detached from the local community.

After Dao Ming saves him, she urges him to turn his life around. She’s haunted by the fact that people she lent money to took their own lives when they couldn’t repay her. She fears Doyle will face a similar fate if he doesn’t change. While she’s away, Doyle discovers what seems to be her hidden savings and immediately starts gambling again. He risks the entire amount on a single baccarat game against a fellow professional gambler and wins, easily covering his debts. However, casino cameras appear to show something—or someone—standing behind him, and he’s accused of cheating. Earlier, Doyle had a disturbing vision of himself as a spirit in his bathroom mirror.

The film concludes with Doyle departing with his winnings, which he then destroys in a ritual burning during the Hungry Ghost Festival. The movie doesn’t offer clear answers, leaving the true events and their significance open to interpretation. One possibility, consistent with the source material, is that Dao Ming wasn’t a real person, but a spirit attempting to warn Doyle about his destiny. It’s also possible Doyle died at the restaurant and is now beginning his afterlife as a Hungry Ghost. Alternatively, a Hungry Ghost may have aided him in winning at baccarat, ultimately fueling his gambling addiction.

The film’s ending represents Doyle’s downfall, and the recurring imagery of the ‘Hungry Ghost’ highlights the destructive power of gambling and addiction. Those who watched past the credits were treated to a lighter scene of Farrell and Swinton dancing, which echoes an earlier moment where Doyle asks Cynthia to dance with him, offering a brief respite from the film’s heavier themes. Ballad of a Small Player will be available on Netflix starting October 29th.

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2025-10-29 00:33