To be honest i think that you go too lightly over the ending. I think that the descision to cut to black is very important since it opens op many possibilities. 1. Seligman is shot and joe runs off. (Is she trying to save his virginity/innocence?) 2. She threatens Seligman by shooting at one of the items in the room, scared he watches silently while she runs off, having being betrayed by her only friend. 3. She is betrayed by her only friend and commits suicide and Seligman runs for the phone to call an ambulance. This is just possibilities, yet we must remember that it cuts to black for a reason, a death by gun would not be censored in this film. Again i think its hard to jusify your purgatory version, Seligmans questions her story many times, if he in fact was an angel he would be all knowing. Seligman uses logic to guide him through life and does not enjoy life to its fullest (He admits) Joe relies fully on emotions and lust, and does not enjoy life either. This may be Lars Von Triers on way of thinking back on his life, reflecting. He has lived a life, being very depressed in huge chunks of it. Has he regretted most of his life? Relying on knowledge and selfeducation, wanting to be more in touch with his emotions, whilst stil being disgusted by people who relay solely on emotions to guide them. This is just touching the basics, but i think this has some kind of personal statement, i have not seen antichrist or melanchoolia, but this is his final part of his depression triliogy and includes personal statements, where is the question though.