Question: What exactly is the deal with the handcuff/hand cutting scene at the end? Even though we see Clarice wince in pain, we see her with both her hands later. Are we to assume that Hannibal cut off his own hand and that's why he was wearing the arm sling on the plane?
Tailkinker
14th Jun 2004
Hannibal (2001)
Answer: Hannibal being an accomplished surgeon could have wielded the cleaver to remove a finger or two thus enabling the handcuffs to be removed. He does mention "above the wrist or below" in the scene, thus below the wrist could mean fingers only.
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Answer: That does appear to be the most likely interpretation of events, yes. The only other possibility, which seems considerably less probable, is that Lecter does know some way of disabling handcuffs with a hard strike - one that still caused significant damage to his wrist, resulting in the need to wear the sling.
Tailkinker ★