I noticed was that every time someone mentions family, Dani immediate has a panic attack. When Pelle apologizes to Dani for the loss of her family she goes to the restroom and cries, Dani is enjoying her shroom trip under the tree with everyone until Mark says "you guys are like my family" Dani immediately freaks out & starts having a bad trip, when Pelle tells her his family died in a fire she begins to cry and yells at him saying she wasn't talking about that. The only time in the film where she doesn't freak out at the mention of the word family is after she is already crowned the may queen when a girl from the commune insist that she is part of their family now.
Did anyone else find it telling that when the woman elder greets each of the American group , she addresses them with ' welcome ' , but to Dani , she says ' welcome home '
I think pelles died in the same fire from the end (idk if he mentions this in the vid I’m only half way through right now i just wanted to send this out into the world haha
When watching the movie with my friend she said she was so disturbed by the scene where all the girls are holding Dani and mimicking her cries. But I thought it was actually very soothing and comforting, like they were all trying to show her “you’re not alone, we’re going through it with you”. And I think that was a big moment for Dani to realize she could have a family and be “held” like Pelle said
I feel like that's part if their culture, to mirror eachothers emotions at times to show empathy....when they weren't colding manipulating behind the scenes...
Yes I agree.. I was at first kind of disturbed but then after thinking, I thought to myself.. "what if that's how every delt with grief.?". I mean, imagine a terrible moment in your life when you screamed and cried in grief. Then a group of people began to mimic your cries until they bacame one cry, how does one mind react to this? How does the soul react? I would love to try this, but I imagine most people would think you're making fun of them. But to cry out and then have a whole group share in your cries so intensely that it becomes one voice....thats absolutely incredible and intriguing.
Whenever Dani ate some kind of hallucinogen she saw grass growing through her hand or feet. It was like the drug was telling her she belonged there...this is where she will grow. Her roots belong there.
still cannot believe y’all were manipulated into thinking she belonged there.. if the cult wouldn’t have killed anybody MAYBE she would belong there but apparently they manipulated her into becoming may queen just to kill her in the end..
@@vincentvandervelden3554 in the tapestry it shows that may queens die, and u don’t see the may queens from the past in the movie. i wonder what happened to them if they didn’t die
@@creamsock8954they become may queen only for 1 day and there were alot of young women in the cult so my guess is that it revolves The 9 lifed sacrifice killing part happens only once every 90 years With exception of the over 72 year old suicide elders And also ,Pelle showed a picture that his sister was may queen once a couple of years ago and at the site he introduced his sister to his American friends And I'm pretty sure the cult is smart enough to not take and hang pictures up of dead people killed at their site
Yea the way they portrayed the visual effects of shrooms/lad is super accurate. You don’t see scary crazy unrealistic shit but the breathing and warping of things is spot on. I’ve never seen a movie get it so correctly
@@dredog710 Lsd was not in the movie, but the same type of distortions do occur. And ayahuasca is not indigenous to Europe, and if you are to consume the tea without fasting or eating a very specific diet for several days, you will have a violent fit of vomiting.
And Josh did his research prior to visiting Sweden, he was well aware of the community rituals and failed to tell his friends. When he laid down with his shoes on I knew he was about to do something stupid.
Sam Aparicio the 90 year thing was confusing to me also. If they off themselves at 72 then how do they do so when there is. O ceremony? Also, if only every 90 years none of them would know the tradition so well as none of them would have done one before. Found all of that very confusing
Great questions! I thought I understood it, but now I'm not too sure. I thought at first the May Queen was crowned every 90 years and then the burning happened, but there were 2 other color photos of May Queens, so that doesn't make sense as I'm pretty sure 180 years ago there wasn't color photography. Is the 90 years a flaw in the story? Aaargh! More discussion is needed! I may have to watch it for a 3rd time!
April Wilkins I agree with this because they are allowed to sacrifice themselves if they want to as we saw with the two who willingly gave themselves up.
I mean everyone in the cult are different ages - so every 90 years would still have remnant individuals who had seen, read, heard, learned about how to perform the rituals...(?). Still don’t know how the parents in the fire fits. Maybe another separate tradition?
Ari Aster is on a roll man. This guy is going to be the new master of Horror. Especially in a time where Horror has turned to shit he is a gift to the genre and has revived my former love for it.
Agreed! I heard that he's going to take a break from horror to explore other genres, so I'm excited to see what else he does. I don't want him to get stuck in a Shyamalan-type curse where everyone has such high expectations that he may not be able to meet them.
The picture over Dani's bed of a blonde girl kissing a bear is most likely a reference to the norwegian fairy tale 'Hvitebjørn Kong Valemon' or 'white bear king Valemon'. I watched Midsommar two days ago and I must say... All the rituals are kinda spot on from Scandinavian culture. (Not the killings or suicides ofc). I've personally been living abroad for about two years now and even tho western cultures are quite similar there are a lot of "rituals" and manners we have in Scandinavia that flabbergasts my English and American friends . The scene after Dani sees Christian cheat on her is disturbingly accurate. In Norway we call it "hylekor" and it's a way of showing sympathy with someone who's in distress... you sort of join their pain with a collective cry and this will take the burden of the hurting person. The audience at the London screening laughed during that scene... me on the other hand felt a sudden need to cry with them.
Yeah I definitely felt that during that scene too. I was connected to the emotions as well. I actually went through something that made me feel exactly like Dani.
Meh I felt that too. It’s a community suffering and it’s verbalized for the entire community to experience, rather than internalize to suffering by one, everyone experiences the pain. I have never seen this perspective before until this movie. Thanks for opening up this cultural practice to us. Amazing film by the way. Great dissertation.
For people to laugh at that scene would have been incredibly frustrating for me (although it makes sense culturally that Londoner’s would laugh 😂) but that scene gave me chills. The way it was executed by the actors was simply breathtaking. What that scene symbolizes (at least to me) was incredibly powerful! It’s also so interesting to hear that this is an actual cultural practice, it’s kind of beautiful...
Morgan Green yes I agree. I had to explain to my son that this may seem funny to us, but then again so is bowing when meeting an elder (Japan) which may seem funny to us but normal to others. (By the way my son is 19 and yes, that one scene with the “community” was incredibly awkward Hahahaha)
From another aspect it’s a Steal your girl movie as Pelle fancied Dani and probably wanted her boyfriend dead and wanted her to be part of his family . He made it obvious reminding her boyfriend that it was her birthday in front of her and talking about how he was especially excited for her to come. Note : don’t go on festival trips planned by a weird University friend. He literally sacrificed his whole crew except Dani because she wasn’t even invited . Pelle was the only one who wasn’t angry that she decided to come .
Maybe Pelle never liked those guys anyway and that's the whole reason he invited them- like his plan was to pretend to befriend some rando douchebags just so you can take them home to sacrifice. Remember the guy who brought Simon and Connie said he and Connie had a date before she got together with Simon? Maybe he chose them because he was angry about it, and they all picked people they don't feel much sympathy for. I thought that only Mark was put out by Dani coming and Josh didn't give a shit either way. Mark was like "dude, you need to dump that girl", Josh is like "whatever let's just talk about your thesis" and Pelle doesn't express an opinion about it either way until he's alone with Dani personally. I'm not entirely sure whether he genuinely fancied her in earnest or if he was just honey potting her to bring her into the cult. But then again, how can we know whether indoctrinating Dani was the plan all along and that she was never considered as a possible sacrifice? Although I did observe that the Harga were more genuinely welcoming to Dani in particular from the start.
When Dani was given the choice as well it really hammered that point home. They were like "So, you can either pick the last one from YOUR world or even ours. You can pick this guy OR Christian, who is already paralyzed and ready to go". and then it cuts to showing Dani looking at Christian in sadness in the wheelchair, and the girl who tells Christian "You can't speak. You can't move. Good." is standing behind him with a huge smile on her face kinda looking down at Christian like "Go on. Pick him. Pick this guy, he's the last one holding you back to your own world, anyway, he's the last link. Let him go."
@@moonlily1 Yeah, that was the plan. For this special 90-year festival, they wanted to sacrifice 9 people, at least 4 from the outside world. So Pelle and his friend were looking for sacrificial lambs. They befriended and manipulated people they wouldn't feel sorry about dying. Dani just happened to be the surprise addition, but Pelle had hope that in her vulnerable state, she would join. Still, if she didn't embrace them, it might have been her wearing the bear coat. None of them were ever leaving.
The first half of the film they said this all happens every 90 years, but the 2nd half disproved that - was the "90" just a lie? Pelle's parents died in a fire - an obvious reference to a sacrifice - and yet that couldn't have happened 90 years ago. For happening every 90 years, everyone looked so comfortable and used to all the ceremonies and sacrifices. --- I'm beginning to wonder if Pelle's telling his friends that the Festival takes place "Every 90 Years" can be dismissed as he is [what they call in literary terms] "An Unreliable Narrater". We learn later of course that his intentions are not honorable and that he cannot be trusted. That is the only way I can seem to reconcile the discrepancy of that part of the story. It's quite obvious that these things happen every MidSummer - or at least much more often than "Every 90 Years".
I picked up that the special ceremony with the 9 sacrifices in the yellow house happens every 90 years. But they celebrate midsommar every year. I might’ve interpreted it wrong, but that what I got.
My take is that the film is, or becomes something of an internal or emotional/psychological fable, especially from the point where the camera goes upside down, then is emphasized when the hallucinogens come out. It isn’t realism. It may be the fable of Dani’s movement from a disconnected, alienated state, to being connected with her own emotions. Or whatever.
The interesting thing I noticed when Christian was congratulating Danny with her birthday - he was trying to light a candle for a long time, and nothing was happening, but then it's finally started to burn. I feel like it represents him doing something bad in relationship all the time, and Danny staying patient enough not to break up with him - but in the end she gets angry and literally burn him. Also, when he is singing "Happy Birthday to you", Swedish ladies on the background cradle a newborn baby.
I'm wondering if part of the purpose of Simon and Connie's characters is to be moral barometers for the others. They react the way Christian, Mark, and Josh SHOULD have reacted to the ritual suicide and demand to leave immediately. Keep in mind that objecting wouldn't have saved their lives---it only got Simon and Connie killed sooner. But they shrug off the village killing off the old couple and shrug off Connie and Simon's disappearance. When Josh and Mark vanish, Christian still doesn't realize what's up and goes on to throw Josh under the bus. So although I'm not sure Christian having sex with Maja is *real* cheating (the drugs he has taken to get him aroused may also have taken away his consent), it's really hard to feel sorry for what happens to him at the end.
Im like 7 months late but in a different aspect, Christian could have been very well aware of what is happening, the disappearance etc, but is trying to keep an oblivious attitude & just accepting whatever the cult was doing for survival. Maybe he thought going along with them would let him stay alive much longer or maybe had a plan in mind to flee soon. Or he is just dumb
Yes, a second post - I think this film depicts a broader social commentary about cult mindset - the destruction of one’s individualism and systematic breakdown of one’s personality to become part of a “collective”/hive mindset. The love-bombing, the sacrifice (in a very literal and figurative sense here), and the fact that it is all done hidden in plain sight. The psychology behind these concepts were brilliantly executed within the imagery in the film and Dani’s character and interaction with the “family”.
The movie is not a celebration of modern Western individualism. I am thinking about several clear individuals depicted in the film: Dani's sister, Christian and Mark. Selfish, other-destructive and self-destructive louts all.
I wouldn’t consider it a cult. Paganism predates Christianity by centuries. One gets the sense while watching this movie that this has been going on a very long time.
It’s interesting how most people found the scene where they sob with Dani to be a sudden change of comic relief, while people familiar with the the culture and people in general who are empaths and sensitive to emotions saw it as very intense and moving, feeling compelled to cry themselves. Also instantly recognizing it as the first time that Dani really feels emotional support and validation. Another interesting thing is despite her flaws and dysfunctional traits, Dani managed to respect the culture and her deviant behavior was understandable (having a panic attack during a trip because you were triggered to flashback to recent trauma is common and nothing like peeing on a sacred tree full of the village’s dead loved ones. The British couple lashed out at the people over their suicide ritual and questioned their mortality despite the fact that the ritual was consensual and just a staple part of life for them, failing to recognize how many English and American cultural aspects can seem quite barbaric if your not socialized you find it normal. Dani was uncomfortable primarily due to recent trauma and her tendency to have strong emotional reactions, but she was clearly aware that it was a tradition and not her place to judge, she discussed it privately privately and was more shocked by the event itself, rather than feeling disgust and moral superiority to them).
By far the best Midsommar EXPLAINED Video on UA-cam. My wife and I, really enjoyed this film and we can't stop talking about it. We definitely, love reading the comments from you esteem audience, they really know movies. Your review is very definitive, with several edits/cuts that are appropriately polished. You said you've watched this film twice and I'm curious to know if you read notes, view bullet points or just wing it during your monologue of a review. What ever your method is, it's very spot on. Finally, Florence Pugh's performance was A+...I'm sure your fans will agree!
Thank you! I write out my reviews/thoughts beforehand. Most of the time they're not complete thoughts or sentences, but ideas I want to make sure I hit upon. And that's where the editing comes in :-) You're absolutely right on Pugh's performance. She was stellar in this and really turned in a haunting performance. I appreciate you watching and giving me those kind words!
I think that Christian's name is a nod to the original Wicker Man. The protagonist was a devout Christian who was also tempted by lust, and like Christian, was burned alive at the end of the film.
I don't think it goes that deep. It's a nod to the white hetero Christian male demographic and the entire movie is and ode to the various pagan groups intent on plowing them under
There is a crucial distinction between the 2 movies in that Edward Woodward's character doesn't succumb to temptation - this is crucial because they only want him for the sacrifice because he's a virgin, if he'd slept with the barmaid they would have had to let him go...
I was struck by how often characters were framed in mirrors or reflections, especially during two early dialogue scenes. Instead of shot-reverse-shot, we get a oner with a reflection somewhere in frame that captures the off-screen character. It's not always Dani who's in the reflection, but she's always isolated from others by the reflection. I only remember examples of this from before they get to Sweden though. Only saw the film once, so I could have missed something.
@@MoviesAndMunchies There was that scene when Dani was having the bad shrooms trip and she went to the bathroom and saw her dead sister's face in the mirror. There was also a long shot of Maja in the mirror when we are first introduced to her. Also, I think the long table they were eating on towards the end (after Dani is crowned May Queen) was a mirror. I remember being struck by how the characters' faces were lit up as if by some kind of beam. I thought it was the silverware reflecting the sunlight but then I realized the table itself was a mirror. Not exactly what Andrew is referring to, but after the beginning I was looking out for instances with mirrors.
also i love watching them collect the hay for the burning in the background of basically the whole movie. like seriously as soon as they get there you can see them reaping and bailing hay. goes through the whole fuckin film.. really made me laugh on the second watch.. the seeds of their fate right there the whole time
This movie was equal parts good and frustrating. I cannot believe how they kept making so many missteps. Drinking this and eating that. However, I could not find one character to root for. I was more upset about the bear. 😫 And why when she saw cheating, she didn't choose anger, she choose more sadness. Any woman at that point would have flipped all the way out. Everybody catching hands. The entire semi-circle. I want to see this movie again.
Women react many different ways to witnessing infidelity. That’s truly unfair to say any woman would flip out. I know because when it happened to me I shut down and went into full reboot, and then experienced every single emotion in the book, but it was all under the umbrella of sadness.
I saw it as her release of grief. By seeing Christian she realizes what she had been denying to herself, which was the end of their relationship. That was yet another loss in her life. The reaction was so guttural that I think it was all of the emotions that brought her up to that point. And I too was upset by the bear!
Another small detail on the “influence” section. If you notice, the flowers actually move along with her heartbeat. Specifically, the pink ones that open and close resemble the valves of her heart and follow her heart rate. I love the line, “It even appears the trees are breathing,” I picked it up on my second viewing and it shifted how I viewed the drug.
I love how the movie worked on 2 levels.(perhaps more) There was obviously an awful ending in the context of the story, Danny has lost her mind ,joined the cult, and is sadistically smiling as her boyfriend burns. But in the context of metaphorical meaning behind the story , it was beautiful and sentimental. It was Danny finally accepting the madness that took place in her own family ,instead of turning to her "drug" Christian that relieved her temporarily by allowing her to avoid thinking about what happened, but suppressing is the worst sin of all. I think the movie was bright and in the light as a direct metaphor for how sometimes shining a light and facing your deepest darkest feelings is equally frightening. The cult represented family and facing death and the grief caused from the death of loved ones ,instead of hiding from it. Danny's smile was finding peace in letting go and embracing her emotions. Idk perhaps I'm just an optimist in thinking the meaning was totally positive, but it was pretty well layered where I imagine there's several ways someone can interpret it. Heriditary felt much more like a horror film because I felt there wasn't really a silver lining interpretation. Midsommar felt more like a rated R extra freaky Alice in Wonderland-like journey of self discovery.
I knew there had to be something more to the beginning. That’s been bugging me since I saw the movie. My friends (who loved the movie) said it was just a way to get her grieving. But I love how you point out that without the beginning, she’s not able to take on a new family. That makes me like the movie even more. Well done, sir! Ha
I just finished watching it today. I thought Pelle had something to do with it; they were not the best of friends, but he knew her and her family’s story. He knew she would come with them. Maybe he helped with Dani’s sister’s suicide and with her parents’ murders? They were killed in weird fashion, wickedly similar to the commune killings. Just my thought.
Jesse Figueroa He says he knew because the boyfriend told him. I don’t think the two were supposed to be related at all. But hey, it’s art! So take it as you may
@@mitch3297 Sure thing, still, did you notice Pelle's sympathetic remarks to her in Cristian's apartment? I can't help but to think that they were all lured intentionally with a pre-determined story that was drawn all over in the walls of the commune. Dani's hurt and emptiness would eventually escalate with her boyfriend's betrayal, and thus was manipulated; I feel like she filled a void to justify the helplessness that was being controlled by her new family.
The other important dynamic of her family was that it was yet another dysfunctional, codependent situation. The family revolves around the sister’s illness and similar to her relationship with Christian, Dani had to sacrifice her own need for support to participate in her own family. Dani is someone who had never experienced a relationship in Which her emotions and needs were important. All of her relationships had to be dissolved in order for her to break free of her self-sacrificing persona. Bummer that her new empathetic family requires literal sacrifices.
I'd like to, but even the short clips I already use can get me copyright strikes on my channel, so to add more puts me at greater risk. Also, I wanted to find pics of some of the paintings and couldn't...but someone sent the Instagram account of the artist who has 2 pieces featured in the film so I linked that in the description of this vid.
@@HaiTharImDavid I have received copyright claims from using stills. Then the studio takes my revenue. Doesn't happen often, but it has happened a handful of times on my reviews.
@@MoviesAndMunchies i also thought i saw the symbol from cult in hereditary on a door to one of the communities buildings but it could've just looked similar and not actually been the same symbol.
Hi ! At the beginning of the video you talk about this movie not being as multilayered as Hereditary, and I may beg to differ (though it's far-fetched). After watching the movie I went on TvTropes to check some fun trivia or details I had missed, and in the 'Maybe magic, maybe mundain' trope something calls back to a crown of flowers that can be seen in Dani's parents room. That led to the very interesting theory that maybe Pelle killed Dani's family to lure her to the village. He's the only one who seems knowledgeable about her parents death, and seems more excited about her coming to sweden than any of the others. When they get off the plane and see girls on the sidewalk Mark ask why all the girls here are hot. Josh answer that's because vikings brought them back here by force in the middle age. Since the times changed they now rely on guile instead to bring back women to the village to reduce inbreeding. When we meet his friend Ingemar and the english couple, Connie and simon, he says that he dated her first and she corrects him even saying she didn't know they were on a date when it happened, giving a hint that maybe he was also trying to bring back a breeder to the village and failed since she chose another partner. When she is crowned the May Queen he gives her a deep kiss, as if he takes for granted that she is now his, or at least promised to him. When they choose the villagers for the sacrifice, Pelle is seen with a crown while an Elder congratulate him for his clairvoyance, as if he did the necessary to bring someone who would stay there after the festival (Killing her entire family and pitting her against Christian so she has no reason to go back). His friend Ingemar volunteers himself as sacrifice, since he failed to have connie join the village as her mate. I'll have to watch it again to see if it really makes sense though, but it could hold up.
You're right it is very layered. Sometimes my mouth moves faster than my brain. I do, however, think this was a more straightforward story than Hereditary. Even though there is a lot to unpack in Midsommar, there is a lot that is predictable. I never felt that way in Hereditary - I didn't see anything coming until perhaps the second before it actually happened. The theory of Pelle being involved in Dani's family's death is definitely interesting. I'll have to chew on that. I truly appreciate your feedback and contributions to this discussion!
@@MoviesAndMunchies Hi again ! Thanks for answering, it is indeed a lot of fun to talk about the movie, I believe that Ari Aster is above many in terms of Foreshadowing and of the most basic rule: Show, don't tell. And about the Pelle theory, I just had another flash: During Dani's first call with Chris, she mentions that even he thought that her last email didn't sound like her usual self, as if she was already dead and someone else wrote it in her stead. Definitely got to watch it again :P
The film was beautifully shot, the scenery was fantastic and foreboding tone built like an unavoidable car crash from the opening scene to the final shot. I wasn’t initially on-board with the fact her families tragedy wasn’t more fully fleshed out and explained, but it met its singular purpose of establishing the source of Dani’s unimaginable grief. If she wasn’t able to sell that to the audience the entire film wouldn’t have worked imo. I don’t think the film itself is Óscar worthy, but Pugh’s performance was nuanced and absolutely mesmerizing. I hope she recognized for her efforts come award season. Some thoughts: I’m assuming Pelle’s sole purpose behind inviting Christian to the fest was to have his his progeny made part of the groups gene pool (and die in cosplay bear costume:-) Dani integration in the group was a “happy” accident. Was there any significance to the crying baby in the dorm? It just seemed odd that no one appeared to be tending to it. It just seemed a bit odd to me. Were Josh, Mark and Simon still dead men walking even if they hadn’t offended the elders? The look of horror on the “volunteers” faces when the torches lit the hay and they realized that their deaths were meaningless and there was no turning back is burned in my brain forever. I also threw my stuffed bear out with the trash when I got home 😩
Some more thoughts after watching the movie a second time... I took a closer look at the mural that foreshadows Christian and Maja's sexual liason. I don't think that the panel which shows the boy with big eyes is meant to convey that he falls in love with the woman. I see the same "big eyes" on Christian and they are definitely an effect of the drugs he has taken. Josh clearly knows what is going to happen at the cliffs ceremony, yet chooses not to reveal this to either of his friends but especially Dani. He knew what happened to her family, and she EXPLICITLY equates the death of the two elders to the deaths of her parents. Feel a little bit less sorry for what happens to him. Ditto for Mark. He's the only one in the group who didn't see the ättestupa festival, and instead of feeling horrified at what happened, he regrets NOT staying to see it? Furthermore, later on in the film we hear the distant voice of a woman screaming. We never see what has happened, although presumedly it must be Connie. There is a camera cut to Mark to looks up at the sound of the voice. At dinner that evening, when the others discuss that Connie is gone, he doesn't mention the noise but does say, "I saw her trying to compete for the sprinting competition" which means he must have seen her RUNNING. Yet he thought nothing was wrong. Nor did he think about trying to help. Finally, we come to Christian. Ironically, the one thing he did that most disturbs Dani (as well as other women), is the one thing he is innocent of. He isn't acting as if, "Hey, Dani's busy at the maypole, now is the chance for me to bang that hot Swede who's had her eye on me." Christian is clearly feeling more and more uncomfortable, and I think he had less choice in the matter than it appears. Still, what a piece of work! When Dani is dancing at the maypole growing more and more exhausted, Christian is the ONLY one not giving her encouragement. (He hasn't yet drunk the drugged drink yet, so that can't be an excuse.) Dani deserves better than this guy. Does he deserve to burn to death in a bearskin? He has only himself to blame for what happened. One more thing before I go. With the notable exception of Dani and Connie, the others don't seem to be bothered by anything happening around them until it actually happens to them personally. No wonder it's so easy for the local to pick these outsiders off one by one until the very end.
>With the notable exception of Dani and Connie, the others don't seem to be bothered by anything happening around them The English guy is super upset by what happens at the ceremony - visibly more so than Dani, who appeared no more concerned than Christian.
Actually he had already had a drink right as he sat down to watch them dance around the maypole. The woman handing it to him said it was to lower his defenses. He tried to give it back at first, but he eventually just says screw it and drinks it
I loved how well the music help with the atmosphere of the scenes. Then showing that the locals were playing that music and we were experiencing the same feelings as the characters was super effective in creating anxiety and fear for them as a viewer. I was spent by the time this movie was over. It was great.
Good breakdown....the period drink I spotted right away as well! I noticed the bear in the initial pic as well! Noticed her smirk at the end. Movie was beautifully shot
Yup, Yup i told people when I left the theater who were confused and hated it,,, everything was told or revealed in some way before happened. It was paced slowly enough to catch most of it at least I saw it
I went to see it alone so I could view it with no distractions. It was great but I’m regretting it a bit because now I have no one to discuss certain aspects of the film with! I loved that everything that happened to Dani at the “Midsommar festival” mirrored what was going on in Dani’s life back home and her relationship with Christian. Never had a film cause such a feeling of dread in me, even before anything disturbing happened. The ending made me feel bad for Dani, she went from leaning on Christian to be her rock to leaning on the “family”. I just wanted her to be her own strength! I guess it was sort of a bittersweet ending. To be honest I need to see it again before I can fully process my thoughts. I love a film that gets better with multiple viewings! I’ve seen some videos on the film and I think yours is my favourite so far. Subscribing!
new favorite movie. any flaws we might see could probably be solved by watching it again, which will (in my mind) always be a pleasure. the score is also immaculate
The painting in the beginning reminds me of the opening credits of Dark where once you've seen the entire thing you recognize all of the symbols to tell the entire plot.
This is a dumb little thing that I noticed but just wanted to share.. when the group is eating the meat pies and we see that Christian’s drink is slightly orange, we can also see that his meat pie is the only one with a leaf under it, so even before he pulled the hair out of his mouth you may have been able to tell that something was up. I just really enjoy little details like that and didn’t know where I could share it otherwise :)
I just saw this movie and as an empath I was very moved. Both of the film's I've seen from this director seen very empathy based, and if you're not an empathetic person you wouldn't understand his film's. As I watched this movie, I was torn between feeling absolute horror at their traditions, to trying to understand other cultures differences, and what Americans do that they themselves might find horrifying.
I agree 10000%. I too consider myself an empath. Like Dani, I just went through a horrible breakup. I think you are right that you hsve to be able to relate to the characters in this movie in order to truly enjoy it. I think I will skip the meat pie though. 🤢
Right on the money. Maybe also bc I was a little more than tipsy watching it, but I totally get where you're coming from. Afterwards, I didn't really feel as though I watched a horror film. I don't consider myself an empath, just highly sensitive, but I would looooovve to watch/read an empath's take on this film.
I think that the women crying with Dani after she discovers Christian cheating is a direct contrast to the scene in the beginning in which she is mourning her family, sobbing uncontrollably, and Christian is just sitting there, practically emotionless. She is finally being given the support and empathy that she never received from him in her time of need.
i know i’m late to the party but is saw this the week it came out and have thought about the details a lot since. just as you exemplified in this video, christian is intensely apathetic and absent in his relationship with dani. one metaphor i’ve interpreted is that his apathy takes on a physical embodiment once the commune drugs him so that he can’t move or speak. he basically gets a taste of his own medicine, in an extreme sense, of how he’s acted in his relationship with dani. other than that, i love that you mentioned the bear poster from the beginning of the film, i noticed it and was trying to think what it may mean during the film and forgot about it by the time they were on the plane.
I just watched this movie last week and it provoked a lot of thought. Dani was played so well, her grief and isolation so palpable. Once her family died, all she had was Christian. She clung on to him even though he was terrible. She wasn't allowed to grieve properly and was stuck in a toxic relationship because he literally was all she had left. So she apologized and put up with his mistreatment as to not lose the only "support" she had left. The movie did a great job of displaying her loneliness and isolation throughout the process. It's not until she's among the Harga, that she begins to feel the sense community and acceptance that she's been longing for. That void and her vulnerability are easily fulfilled by the hivemind of the commune. They are truly a unit that feel together, raise each other, and experience everything as a whole. It almost makes me think she was meant to be there the whole time, the elder greeting everyone even tells her "Welcome home." At the end, when they are burning the triangle house, I feel the villagers are not only empathizing with the pain of those burning inside, but are also releasing the bad affekts that they harbor, which will allow them to be renewed. By burning the bear (which was a symbol of what was evil and wrong), the Harga were able to be renewed, as was Dani who was finally able to find release and rid herself of the toxicity (Christian) in her life and be accepted into a "family" where she finally felt at home.
i still have questions about the grains and slab of meat that they planted after Dani became May Queen, was that meat taken from one of the main characters? and what does whatever it grows into represent?
This is my first time on your channel. I'm super excited that you addressed the connection between the murder-suicide in the beginning with the end of the film. I've seen many people say that the film isn't as good because the first part doesn't matter and that it gets "dropped" or "leads to nothing". It took me some time thinking about it but I eventually made the connection. I knew one was there I just hadn't found it. You also made this connection. Good job! I'm now subscribed.
Awesome! I'm glad you found my channel. I'm also glad I was able to confirm the connection for you. I saw several too after I posted this that said that same thing - that the beginning led to nothing...
Actually, I think a more interesting discussion would revolve around a comparison between Hereditary and Midsommar. Some obvious points: 1) The visual that opens Midsommar lays out the storyline to come, essentially suggesting a theme of determinism, a controlling idea already much discussed about Hereditary 2) that both Hereditary and Midsommar contain parallel visual representations of the action depicted within the film: Annie Graham's eerie miniatures in Hereditary, and of course the opening visual in Midsommar along with the graphics that appear throughout the film. 3) Pain, loss and sacrifice in the context of neo-paganism.
Excellent analysis! This was such a thematically layered film and one that can be interpreted and analyzed on so many different levels. Definitely a film that devoted a lot of attention to detail and demands that same attention from its viewers. Luckily I expected that going in, so I was able to appreciate the artwork foreshadowing and noticed things like the red drink, but I'm sure there's a lot of stuff I still missed and I can't wait to rewatch it because I think it's one that I'll grow to appreciate even more. The relationship aspects of this story really drove the film thematically, but I also appreciated the family dynamics as well, especially as Dani was progressively integrated into the "family" of the community. The group screaming/wailing changes from being something frightening to an unsettling act of solidarity. I also really loved the dual-meaning of 'midsommar' itself. We've got the midsommar festival which is the catalyst for everything, but since this story is truly focused on our main characters and their own personal issues with relationships, growing up, etc. there's also a connection there as well. This Swedish community relates a person's life to the seasons: 0-18 = spring, 18-36 = summer, 36-54 = fall, and 54-72 = winter. Our core characters are PhD students and in their late-20s... metaphorically, mid-summer in their lives!
Just saw the film, and was left wondering.. • did pelle stage her sisters murder/suicide • there was a part mid movie where a close up of Dani’s eyes go from hazel to green - meaning what? • the plane heavily rattling during the flight • I’m thinking a drop of “yan?” tree oil doesn’t actually stop pain and fear? • was the group spectacle actually showing real emotional support, or was it cheap theatrical manipulation to brainwash Dani and win her over to the side of the group?
Great questions! I'm not sure on Pelle's part in the murder/suicide, but I can definitely see it happening. I missed her eyes changing color, but having hazel eyes myself, mine change from hazel to green or blue sometimes. I remember the turbulence on the plane standing out to me too...but I chalked it up to going outside the plane in the rushing air, but there's most likely a truer meaning. Haha on the tree oil. I think they needed to drink that bottle rather than get just a drop! I still believe the group was showing support rather than manipulation, although I think it ends with similar results. Thanks for joining in the discussion!
In regards to the plane rattling, I feel like it was a foreshadowing almost. Nice peaceful scenery out the window then everything just kind of crumbles right in front of you.
Your review was awesome and helped explain so much. Was curious if you ever watched the Netflix OA and if you saw any reference/ links to the show? There was a dance part right when the outsiders go to the commune that was super close to a part in OA and it struck me as interesting.
Not sure if anyone mentioned it yet, but the art above Dani's bed is by swedish artist, John Bauer. It's a classic fairy tale art series that probably all scandinavians recognised instantly www.wikiart.org/en/john-bauer/she-kissed-the-bear-on-the-nose
Some things I still don’t understand. Can someone help? 1) why did they put scissors under the baby’s pillow 2) why did it seem like the baby was a huge part in the movie. It never stopped crying 3)were maya & Christian related? Incest was talked about a lot in the movie & they mentioned how having an incest child in planned 4) what happened to Connie?
1. I read another comment in a different video that the scissors were a superstition about placing iron under the pillows of children to ward off faeries. 2. Could be the representation of innocence? or a warning to the others like a siren? IDK 3. Interesting theory, but I don't see how. 4. She was sacrificed and I'm pretty sure can be seen in one of the wheelbarrows at the end.
Has anyone considered that the cult was behind the murder/suicide of Dani’s parents? If you rewatch the bedroom scene, there’s a flower crown and the small flower trinkets are in the bedroom. They might’ve compelled her sister to finally kill them and Dani did then get a mysterious phone call
I hope this makes sense, as I’m very excited to try and explain my thoughts. At 12:13 you talk about the elders and, you mention how horrible that man fell, made me realize that this movie is all about breakups. Well when we are first introduced to this couple, you see the man following the woman in everything they do. Maybe the man was more in love with the woman, like a switched around Dani and Christian. So at that scene where they fall, you see the woman go first. To me this represents how she was more committed to actually giving her life, where as he was always following and seeming unsure. When he does fall, it didn’t go as smooth- maybe because he wasn’t really to leave that life with her. We notice that the family isn’t as reactive to her as they were to him, just like when we have a breakup our friends are going to want to make us feel no pain. Usually one person is hurt most after the breakup. So the family was showing empathy for the man because he was most hurt by the fact that their lives would no longer be together, like a breakup. She was ready and finally got the courage to end so the family is actually ok with witnessing her death.
Theres a lot of comments sorry if I repeated a discussion if so tag me in it... did anyone notice the flower wreath next to the sleeping parents .... or the face in the trees when dani became may queen.
@@RipleyE-we1hj I saw it again last night It would be interesting if it was pelle. However i want to believe the sister did it I think it's more fucked up. And also no matter how messed up their community is I dont think murdering and framing people is apart of their beliefs.
@@WaffleNova It is definitely more fucked up. Both scenes with the hose taped in her mouth will be permanently etched on my mind, among other scenes. Perhaps framing is not part of their beliefs, but murder is a possibility. Pelle must've been desperate to find a queen lol. Seriously, I would love to see a 3-hour version of this film once it's released on blu-ray. I wish they did that with Hereditary blu-ray release since Ari initially wanted that to be a 3-hour film.
Excellent review!! Because of your outstanding review, I will watch this movie a second time with your insight. Your review was so excellent that I subscribed.
I wonder if the empathetic sharing of emotion, pain, and pleasure was only just a sympathetic motion by the family and not some unexplained connectedness. I say this because during the dance scene Danny spoke Swedish even though she didn’t know the language. When she allowed herself to be free in the dance the shared connection between her and the other women transferred the ability to speak the language. It also seemed like during the scenes of dany weeping and the the sex ritual and the botched suicide, the experience seemed to be a real sensation to those participating.
I took it as the community is a whole so when someone else feels something it resonates with all of them. Energy entwined to make it easier for the community to exist. Just a thought
To have another person acknowledge your grief, confusion and deep inner pain would be therapeutic. Instead of ignoring it, denying it, putting a mask on to try and be ‘happy’ without help. I mean, the friend tells Christian in the trailer, ‘dude, she needs therapy’ and he’s right- she does. But the group of boys Dani travels with are unable or unwilling to sympathize with her- the main person who should, Christian, was checked out. So- there in halsingland- all the togetherness, the violent rituals, force Dani into therapy. And- her perpetual clinging to Christian is expertly destroyed in front of her, clearly, with no room for vagueness- he wants to be with other women- he does not want Dani anymore. She had to have it displayed in front of her naked eye to finally be able to acknowledge that it’s over for them. Painful, but with the other girls taking on her feelings - her pain is validated - instead of ignored by the boys who don’t want her on their trip. Dani keeps talking to herself in the movie, ‘what’s wrong with me? Stop it, stop it!’ - and it’s all internal- not spoken aloud. But when there’s the group grieving - it’s aloud- exposed to the air - exposed to rip it out of Dani’s psyche - instead of the damaging effects of self destruction she was downward spiraling in. I can’t believe what an all encompassing director this young man is. He has a knack for psychological intuitiveness in his writing, imagery and directing. Wow.
Well said! Ari Aster has done a phenomenal job at storytelling and world-building. His ability to draw us in, mess with our heads and terrify us in a way we never saw coming is astounding.
Love your thoughtful analysis of Midsommar. A few critics disliked that Dani’s loss of her family (shown in the first 20 minutes of the film) was not referenced again at all later in the movie. Maybe I saw a different movie, because I thought that her major tragedy *was* harkened back to during subsequent parts of the story. At the very least, it was the impetuous that started Dani along the journey of becoming accepted into her *new* family and into a new life with them.
Completely agree! I didn't get when I read others talking about how the parents' death led nowhere and didn't fit...you and I both were apparently seeing different movies :-)
Oh, the influences tragedy is laden with. Seduction requires consent. Christian was a narcissist. Was Pelles kiss an invitation for a coupling with Dani? Very interested in viewing the director's cut. Saw the movie twice thus far. The coldness the community had toward the caged bear made me very uncomfortable. It was simply an object to them--- much like pigs, turkeys, chickens, cows and sea creatures eaten as food by human beings are written off as objects instead of the sentient beings in actuality they are.
Just watch this movie last night. What a trip! One thing I picked up was Pelle said his family was killed in a fire when he was 5. That made me think his parents volunteered and were sacrificed. (Unless I miss something.) I also feel bad for Christian. He was in a relationship he felt trapped in and stuck around when a lot of dudes wouldn’t have. I wish the writer would have saved him at the end. I think that would have been a surprising twist. Thanks for the review!
I've read that this is a commentary on Sweden's move to the far right. I think that is an oversimplification but notice they choose the white girl to make May Queen and the white boy to have the ritualized sex. There was no way they would have used the British kids who were Indian and the black friend would never have been used as a reproduction tool. I have seen it once but will see again. Many questions I wonder about. Why did the 2 younger men accept the sacrifice at the end. It would have been better for older people to sacrifice themselves. Was this a village used for the festival? Did the people then move back to a normal life? This was said to be a once every 90 year occurrence but people committed a ritualized suicide at 72. Was the Swedish friend who brought the Americans lying? It seemed like cultists of college age were sent off as recruiters to bring in people to sacrifice and use to repopulate the cult. Love the film and it reminded me of course The Wicker Man but also The Village and Magnolia. The final scene when Dani smiles at the end it is her first real sense of joy just like the character Claudia in Magnolia who smiles for the first time in the last shot. Also loved the score which I hope is available to buy.
I think the guy from the cult, I can't recall his name, picked Dani as his chance to bring home the next May Queen. Especially since he is rewarded. The way he studied the table and drew it shows just how much of an observer he is. Dani already had some kind of problems. Her sister was bipolar, and she had prescription Ativan, one of the strongest anti anxiety medications out there, not something you take for mild anxiety. So it's easy to assume she suffered some sort of mental illness as well. He saw her as weak, the type of person cults often target and recruit. Looking at the set up of the murder suicide, I really think he killed them to break Dani completely. The way the sister had the hose duct taped to her mouth and the distance from the garage, makes it seem like someone else took her life. I mean she would of had to hook the hose up to both tail pipes, start both cars, set up the hose to the master bedroom, take the other to her room, write Dani, have the fumes pumping out the hose then tape it to her mouth, with a ton of tape. The cult had drugs/methods to completely mute and paralyze people without a fight. The way they keep telling only Dani how happy they are that she came. A lot of the cult members fully embrace her instantly after meeting her. They are welcoming to all of them, but the way they greet Dani, it just feels singled out to me.
Time to throw in my two cents concerning the runes. I'm going to have to watch it again with a friend who knows them better than I do, but here's a few I did recognize. The shape of the table before the senicide was Othala which is Family, Tradition, and Home. (Unfortunately said rune is easily recognized since neo-Nazi mouthbreathers are trying to appropriate Othala to mean Nationalism; THEY can jump off that cliff as far as I'm concerned.) The shirt Christian was wearing before bedding Maja had the rune Tiwaz stitched into it. Tiwaz is related to the god Tyr, who sacrificed his hand to Fenrir as a symbol of good faith. So already Christian is singled out as a sacrifice. When Josh's leg is seen sticking out of the gardens, the rune carved into his foot was Ansuz, Knowledge or Insight. Considering Josh got caught on his quest for knowledge, that's a pretty dark little joke. Dan's blouse has Raido on it as well as another I'm not sure of, but Raido is Journey. The rune is also reversed which gives the meaning a darker turn, and could relate to the emotional turmoil that Dani is going through. That's what I've got so far.
It’s kind of a feel good story when you realize it’s just about a nice girl ditching a toxic boyfriend and finding a loving family after a traumatic experience. When the women cried with Dani, grieved with her, it was beautiful. It was the empathy she needed.
Did anyone else notice how nonchalant Pelle was when they walked by the 🐻 in the cage 🤣. Dani goes ohh you have a bear and he goes yea it’s nust a bear. Little does she know it’s about to be her boyfriends resting place ! Brilliant 👌🏼
Nail on head. It's really just about leaving a horrible relationship finding new friends and getting rid of your old friends. Pelle wanted to move in on Dani, Christian wanted to leave. Revenge came at the end. Good movie
I saw an Easter Egg. The pattern of "The Shining's" carpet was on Dani's blanket . It was better in an altered state...especially when the drugs kick in for them. My favorite shot was the guy burning to death. and the shot where Dani's facial expression goes from angry to a full smile. I didn't like the audience this time as much as I liked the first plus there was a kid speaking the time, Also the audience the second time wasn't as freaked out as the first, but there were 2 women who just cursed aloud instead.
The last supper of the old couple is actually a precise picture of old rituals concerning ancestors. They come to the table as spirits of the dead, for whom there is always food prepared. And the moment they start eating is the "right moment" everyone is waiting for. So we see here living people playing out these roles as if they already belong to the other world. The painting in the beginning shows "calendar". The murder suicide took place in late December, the longest night in the year. Therefore - it is the beginning. Also you noticed that Dany took mushrooms with guilt, which resulted in this emotion manifested in her sisters face. That really fits together.
I agreed with pretty much everything you said! One point to add though is that I felt the ending was slightly ambiguous. Yes, Dani has shed her old skin to join this new family. I was happy for her in that sense, since she was so alone up until that point. However, this family has no scruples about committing murder as an end to practice its beliefs. Dani just joined a cult, lol.
Great insight about the yellow temple being shaped like an A; I didn't even think of that!! I wonder if that could represent Ari Aster too, since he said this film was based off his real life breakup?
Love this video. One thought to add to this review. Pele mentioned that he also was an orphan due to a fire causing the death of his parents. Think it was because of the sacrificial ritual at the end of Midsommar?
@Sparkle Plenty Keeping in mind that the hosts have been lying to the guests up until the very end. It's possible Pelle's parents never died in a fire. It's also possible that this ceremony is held more frequently than 90 years. (Although it does look like a May Queen is crowned every year, judging by the pictures.)
The picture of the bear in Danni's room is an illustration from European fairytale called 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon'. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_of_the_Sun_and_West_of_the_Moon
Movie was a cross between Deliverance and the Wicker Man. The big surprise for me was finding out that pelle was an inbred oracle.Pelle was a class A monster. He brought his friends there to be tortured and then murdered(not sacrificed, but murder).Dani at the end was a woman unhinged as the oracle predicted in the very beginning of the movie when he said Dani was crazy and he(pelle) could tell that by looking in her eyes. There was at least 3 zoom ins on just Dani's eyes and the look she was giving got progressively crazier. That entire town was filled with sick demented people who were so cavalier about committing murder and torturing people. That nonsense of screaming when the man's leg was broken made me sick, as if they were trying to drown out his painful noises and absolve themselves of their own part in his forced suicide. The woman showed Dani what Christian was up to not out of compassion but to further drive her insane and further into their demented community. I can go on and on but stuffing Christian into a dead bear after waking and then mocking him by informing him he can neither speak nor move, then that woman smiles at him.The the false hope the elder gives the men in the temple by giving them yew for pain and fear, when we see that it didnt work at all then went into the night screaming in terror and pain and the crazy people outside start to scream and hit themselves,like that makes it a-ok because we are going to pretend to feel your pain by play acting. Funniest part of the movie was the woman pushing on Christian's buttocks while he was impregnating Miya. Christian's name is also not chance name...it seems to pit Paganism against Christianity. Oy Vey!!
I thought it was clever that "Dani" and "Christian" were in the second part of the cult's described 4 part, 18 year cycle. As it was likened to the seasons, Dani and Christian technically would be in the mid-summer part of their lives. Well done.
Just saw the movie, loved it! The bear painting is by fantastic swedish artist John Bauer. It's called "Stackars lilla Basse!" and is an illustration in the fairy tale collection "Bland tomtar och troll".
I’ve been trying my best to figure it out myself but I’m hopeless so I’ve tried looking it up but I cannot find it so please please PLEASE talk about what the disfigured girl is supposed to mean or symbolize?!?! Does it symbolize incest or what? It’d also be nice to know how Dani was able to understand and speak Swedish during the dance or was that a hallucination?
Something i noticed on the second watch is when josh is in the temple talking to the preist you can hear the scream of connie being killed. Next it cuts to Dani in the kitchen and you hear the same scream. Then it cuts to Mark in the feild and you hear the scream again.
I think this movie is also largely about how sedatives distracts us from obvious upcoming destructions while society through talks of tradition and religion throws us deeper and tries to make us feel a part of it all those who try to escape or rebel are dealt with and those who stay are consumed by the process. Especially how they even mimic each others response like how people do with social media
Also, notice how Dani’s parents dies during wintertime. The season where the elders life in the swedish cult, are supposed to come to an end. Just a little detail I caught while watching it. It’s honestly such an interesting and brilliant movie, and I was so disturbed yet very intrigued the whole time.
Thank you so much for this video!!! Your thorough explanation sheds a lot of light on the general premise, although I think movies like that are meant to keep you in the dark a little bit and that's why it's all so subjective, yet intriguing. It's very inspiring to see you interpretation of it which actually seems pretty accurate. Love your channel!!!
Very nice breakdown and interpretation of the movie. I very much agree. Especially about needing the intro scene to set up her acceptance into the new "family." That made absolute sense. Thanks for making the video and happy to be a new sub.
Thanks! Did you see the regular version or the director's cut? I only got to see the regular so I'm really interested in finding out what new stuff was added.
This film was palpable. Leaving the theatre I was so mixed up about it. But now that I can’t stop thinking about it’s symbolism, I actually kind of love this film. I think it’s quite too esoteric for pedestrians but, the imagery and ideas of language and art as means of empathy & understanding is, to me, what makes this a masterpiece.
Great review and explanation, thank you! However, can someone tell me what happened to Connie? She disappeared after Simon, and of course she was killed, but how? And where was she?
At 3:40 - Concerning "Snow White and Rose Red"... No. The bear is called "The Black One" - the thing that must be destroyed. While both stories are Scandinavian, this bear was meant as the symbol of evil to be destroyed, not the loving protector.
Great review! Best one I’ve seen. First of all I wouldn’t call this a horror film. It’s a disturbing film but if you go into it with expectations of something like Hereditary you’ll be disappointed, maybe. I was expecting a horror film but instead what I got was a wonderfully layered film with some disturbing scenes but it’s ultimately about one girls need for acceptance and her codependence. Is she free from it in the end? I don’t really know. Maybe she’s transferring her codependency from her boyfriend to her new family. Although it was sweet to see her being fully validated in her pain and grief for once within the family so I think she will feel more fulfilled here. My reaction when it was over was, “well that’s one way to get rid of a bad boyfriend”. So I feel like the idea that this film is ultimately about the end of a relationship shines through pretty brightly. I have seen a lot of people say they were disappointed and it’s not as good as Hereditary but it’s really a whole different experience. Not horror but unsettling. I loved it but not the same way as I loved Hereditary. I cannot stress enough that I literally hated everything about Christian. He was a horrible boyfriend and a horrible friend too. I cannot think of a better ending for him than he got! Ugh, I just hated him! And if you’ve ever been in a bad relationship with someone like him you cringe every time you see Dani apologizing for having feelings that are valid. This film is long but I was engrossed from beginning to end.
Florence as Black Widow sister, read an article she would only accept the role if she did her own conditioning. Apparently she was very much aware of those professional demands. Managed that up front
Another thing: The names. Christian is a christian name. So is Dani. Dani means "God is my Judge". Dani is actually also a feminine variant of the male name Daniel, which means "God's is my strength".
I noticed was that every time someone mentions family, Dani immediate has a panic attack. When Pelle apologizes to Dani for the loss of her family she goes to the restroom and cries, Dani is enjoying her shroom trip under the tree with everyone until Mark says "you guys are like my family" Dani immediately freaks out & starts having a bad trip, when Pelle tells her his family died in a fire she begins to cry and yells at him saying she wasn't talking about that. The only time in the film where she doesn't freak out at the mention of the word family is after she is already crowned the may queen when a girl from the commune insist that she is part of their family now.
Did anyone else find it telling that when the woman elder greets each of the American group , she addresses them with ' welcome ' , but to Dani , she says ' welcome home '
Brilliant review. Really enjoyed that . Thanks. I loved the film too:0)
@@saleclair yessssi saw that and I was like oop, what we got here
This isn’t true. Why is this hearted?
I think pelles died in the same fire from the end (idk if he mentions this in the vid I’m only half way through right now i just wanted to send this out into the world haha
When watching the movie with my friend she said she was so disturbed by the scene where all the girls are holding Dani and mimicking her cries. But I thought it was actually very soothing and comforting, like they were all trying to show her “you’re not alone, we’re going through it with you”. And I think that was a big moment for Dani to realize she could have a family and be “held” like Pelle said
Yeah, I found it odd at first too, but then like you, realized it was definitely them showing compassion to her and joining in her hurt.
I feel like that's part if their culture, to mirror eachothers emotions at times to show empathy....when they weren't colding manipulating behind the scenes...
It was extremely soothing for me as well. One of my favorite parts of the film.
Yes I agree.. I was at first kind of disturbed but then after thinking, I thought to myself.. "what if that's how every delt with grief.?". I mean, imagine a terrible moment in your life when you screamed and cried in grief. Then a group of people began to mimic your cries until they bacame one cry, how does one mind react to this? How does the soul react? I would love to try this, but I imagine most people would think you're making fun of them. But to cry out and then have a whole group share in your cries so intensely that it becomes one voice....thats absolutely incredible and intriguing.
I felt like you
Whenever Dani ate some kind of hallucinogen she saw grass growing through her hand or feet. It was like the drug was telling her she belonged there...this is where she will grow. Her roots belong there.
still cannot believe y’all were manipulated into thinking she belonged there.. if the cult wouldn’t have killed anybody MAYBE she would belong there but apparently they manipulated her into becoming may queen just to kill her in the end..
@@creamsock8954 what makes you think she gets killed after?
@@vincentvandervelden3554 in the tapestry it shows that may queens die, and u don’t see the may queens from the past in the movie. i wonder what happened to them if they didn’t die
@@creamsock8954they become may queen only for 1 day and there were alot of young women in the cult so my guess is that it revolves
The 9 lifed sacrifice killing part happens only once every 90 years
With exception of the over 72 year old suicide elders
And also ,Pelle showed a picture that his sister was may queen once a couple of years ago and at the site he introduced his sister to his American friends
And I'm pretty sure the cult is smart enough to not take and hang pictures up of dead people killed at their site
@@vincentvandervelden3554 ok lol
If you've ever done shrooms or lsd, the environment "breathing" and seeming to grow through you, and the faces shifting are common effects
@Dion Feradomi link didn't work, I got so excited...
Yea the way they portrayed the visual effects of shrooms/lad is super accurate. You don’t see scary crazy unrealistic shit but the breathing and warping of things is spot on. I’ve never seen a movie get it so correctly
Not lsd but shrooms yes lsd was not used in this movie just shrooms and iowaska or however you spell it
The movie had the best representation of shrooms I've ever seen.
@@dredog710 Lsd was not in the movie, but the same type of distortions do occur. And ayahuasca is not indigenous to Europe, and if you are to consume the tea without fasting or eating a very specific diet for several days, you will have a violent fit of vomiting.
And Josh did his research prior to visiting Sweden, he was well aware of the community rituals and failed to tell his friends. When he laid down with his shoes on I knew he was about to do something stupid.
YES!!
When Pelle said his parents died in a fire, I assumed he meant his parents were sacrificed in a prior ceremony?
Sam Aparicio the 90 year thing was confusing to me also. If they off themselves at 72 then how do they do so when there is. O ceremony? Also, if only every 90 years none of them would know the tradition so well as none of them would have done one before. Found all of that very confusing
Sam Aparicio I need to watch it again. Too much to unpack in one viewing. Really liked it though.
Great questions! I thought I understood it, but now I'm not too sure. I thought at first the May Queen was crowned every 90 years and then the burning happened, but there were 2 other color photos of May Queens, so that doesn't make sense as I'm pretty sure 180 years ago there wasn't color photography. Is the 90 years a flaw in the story? Aaargh! More discussion is needed! I may have to watch it for a 3rd time!
April Wilkins I agree with this because they are allowed to sacrifice themselves if they want to as we saw with the two who willingly gave themselves up.
I mean everyone in the cult are different ages - so every 90 years would still have remnant individuals who had seen, read, heard, learned about how to perform the rituals...(?). Still don’t know how the parents in the fire fits. Maybe another separate tradition?
Ari Aster is on a roll man. This guy is going to be the new master of Horror. Especially in a time where Horror has turned to shit he is a gift to the genre and has revived my former love for it.
Agreed! I heard that he's going to take a break from horror to explore other genres, so I'm excited to see what else he does. I don't want him to get stuck in a Shyamalan-type curse where everyone has such high expectations that he may not be able to meet them.
Lauren Bray 100% agree with this I think he is a genius
I just saw this movie last night (on a first date mind you) and I wouldn’t call this horror. It was more like a visual experience.
Hazel Primrose it’s almost it’s own genre
this is the golden age of horror
I really hope Florence doesn't hit fame and get wayyyy too skinny like alot of actresses. She looks great the way she is.
That girl is absolutely 🤢
Stefan Ohlund 😊❣️
I think she is just perfect
@Stefan Ohlund because you cant be slim and naturaly beautiful?
Agree. She looks like a normal, healthy person.
The picture over Dani's bed of a blonde girl kissing a bear is most likely a reference to the norwegian fairy tale 'Hvitebjørn Kong Valemon' or 'white bear king Valemon'. I watched Midsommar two days ago and I must say... All the rituals are kinda spot on from Scandinavian culture. (Not the killings or suicides ofc).
I've personally been living abroad for about two years now and even tho western cultures are quite similar there are a lot of "rituals" and manners we have in Scandinavia that flabbergasts my English and American friends . The scene after Dani sees Christian cheat on her is disturbingly accurate. In Norway we call it "hylekor" and it's a way of showing sympathy with someone who's in distress... you sort of join their pain with a collective cry and this will take the burden of the hurting person. The audience at the London screening laughed during that scene... me on the other hand felt a sudden need to cry with them.
Yeah I definitely felt that during that scene too. I was connected to the emotions as well. I actually went through something that made me feel exactly like Dani.
That is some awesome insight you just gave! Thank you so much for sharing that!!
Meh I felt that too. It’s a community suffering and it’s verbalized for the entire community to experience, rather than internalize to suffering by one, everyone experiences the pain. I have never seen this perspective before until this movie. Thanks for opening up this cultural practice to us. Amazing film by the way. Great dissertation.
For people to laugh at that scene would have been incredibly frustrating for me (although it makes sense culturally that Londoner’s would laugh 😂) but that scene gave me chills. The way it was executed by the actors was simply breathtaking. What that scene symbolizes (at least to me) was incredibly powerful! It’s also so interesting to hear that this is an actual cultural practice, it’s kind of beautiful...
Morgan Green yes I agree. I had to explain to my son that this may seem funny to us, but then again so is bowing when meeting an elder (Japan) which may seem funny to us but normal to others. (By the way my son is 19 and yes, that one scene with the “community” was incredibly awkward Hahahaha)
From another aspect it’s a Steal your girl movie as Pelle fancied Dani and probably wanted her boyfriend dead and wanted her to be part of his family . He made it obvious reminding her boyfriend that it was her birthday in front of her and talking about how he was especially excited for her to come.
Note : don’t go on festival trips planned by a weird University friend. He literally sacrificed his whole crew except Dani because she wasn’t even invited .
Pelle was the only one who wasn’t angry that she decided to come .
kemykat100 Pelle aka Mr steal ya girl. He’s a smooth talker
Maybe Pelle never liked those guys anyway and that's the whole reason he invited them- like his plan was to pretend to befriend some rando douchebags just so you can take them home to sacrifice. Remember the guy who brought Simon and Connie said he and Connie had a date before she got together with Simon? Maybe he chose them because he was angry about it, and they all picked people they don't feel much sympathy for.
I thought that only Mark was put out by Dani coming and Josh didn't give a shit either way. Mark was like "dude, you need to dump that girl", Josh is like "whatever let's just talk about your thesis" and Pelle doesn't express an opinion about it either way until he's alone with Dani personally. I'm not entirely sure whether he genuinely fancied her in earnest or if he was just honey potting her to bring her into the cult. But then again, how can we know whether indoctrinating Dani was the plan all along and that she was never considered as a possible sacrifice? Although I did observe that the Harga were more genuinely welcoming to Dani in particular from the start.
When Dani was given the choice as well it really hammered that point home. They were like "So, you can either pick the last one from YOUR world or even ours. You can pick this guy OR Christian, who is already paralyzed and ready to go". and then it cuts to showing Dani looking at Christian in sadness in the wheelchair, and the girl who tells Christian "You can't speak. You can't move. Good." is standing behind him with a huge smile on her face kinda looking down at Christian like "Go on. Pick him. Pick this guy, he's the last one holding you back to your own world, anyway, he's the last link. Let him go."
@@moonlily1 Yeah, that was the plan. For this special 90-year festival, they wanted to sacrifice 9 people, at least 4 from the outside world. So Pelle and his friend were looking for sacrificial lambs. They befriended and manipulated people they wouldn't feel sorry about dying. Dani just happened to be the surprise addition, but Pelle had hope that in her vulnerable state, she would join. Still, if she didn't embrace them, it might have been her wearing the bear coat. None of them were ever leaving.
@@lunacouer That's the most logical interpretation. I'm not a fan of the more convoluted ones.
Yes, the "A" burns: and the word *ardor* literally means "burning."
While the protagonist is female instead of male, keep in mind the letter that begins both the first and last name of the writer-director.
Freyathrith Not-to-subtle, is it.
Edward J. Cunningham The last letter is the same as well. And the number of letters.
true, in spanish it means like stinging/burning
The first half of the film they said this all happens every 90 years, but the 2nd half disproved that - was the "90" just a lie? Pelle's parents died in a fire - an obvious reference to a sacrifice - and yet that couldn't have happened 90 years ago. For happening every 90 years, everyone looked so comfortable and used to all the ceremonies and sacrifices.
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I'm beginning to wonder if Pelle's telling his friends that the Festival takes place "Every 90 Years" can be dismissed as he is [what they call in literary terms] "An Unreliable Narrater".
We learn later of course that his intentions are not honorable and that he cannot be trusted.
That is the only way I can seem to reconcile the discrepancy of that part of the story.
It's quite obvious that these things happen every MidSummer - or at least much more often than "Every 90 Years".
The celebration festival with the burning sacrifice is what happens every 90 years. The ritual suicide happens each year people reach 72 years of age.
Agreed. This seems like something they do every year. Otherwise, why were there so many photographs of May Queens?
I picked up that the special ceremony with the 9 sacrifices in the yellow house happens every 90 years. But they celebrate midsommar every year. I might’ve interpreted it wrong, but that what I got.
My take is that the film is, or becomes something of an internal or emotional/psychological fable, especially from the point where the camera goes upside down, then is emphasized when the hallucinogens come out. It isn’t realism. It may be the fable of Dani’s movement from a disconnected, alienated state, to being connected with her own emotions. Or whatever.
Totally agree with you that they do this series of rituals more than once every 90 yrs.
The interesting thing I noticed when Christian was congratulating Danny with her birthday - he was trying to light a candle for a long time, and nothing was happening, but then it's finally started to burn. I feel like it represents him doing something bad in relationship all the time, and Danny staying patient enough not to break up with him - but in the end she gets angry and literally burn him. Also, when he is singing "Happy Birthday to you", Swedish ladies on the background cradle a newborn baby.
A very good observation here
Woh, that's brilliant
and she then blows out the fire before it even gets properly lit dismissing his pursuit
I don’t remember where but I think there’s an old wives tale of a fire will not ignite when a witch is present
@@darkdemonqueen I like that...But then they used to burn witches at the stake, so how could that work?
I'm wondering if part of the purpose of Simon and Connie's characters is to be moral barometers for the others. They react the way Christian, Mark, and Josh SHOULD have reacted to the ritual suicide and demand to leave immediately. Keep in mind that objecting wouldn't have saved their lives---it only got Simon and Connie killed sooner. But they shrug off the village killing off the old couple and shrug off Connie and Simon's disappearance. When Josh and Mark vanish, Christian still doesn't realize what's up and goes on to throw Josh under the bus. So although I'm not sure Christian having sex with Maja is *real* cheating (the drugs he has taken to get him aroused may also have taken away his consent), it's really hard to feel sorry for what happens to him at the end.
Edward J. Cunningham josh knew about the community rituals but he was hesitant telling his friends he did his research prior to visiting Sweden
Delta SSiPP I think he knew some of them, the suicides of the elderly. But he didn’t know they sacrifice tourists and such lol
Im like 7 months late but in a different aspect, Christian could have been very well aware of what is happening, the disappearance etc, but is trying to keep an oblivious attitude & just accepting whatever the cult was doing for survival. Maybe he thought going along with them would let him stay alive much longer or maybe had a plan in mind to flee soon. Or he is just dumb
Yes, a second post - I think this film depicts a broader social commentary about cult mindset - the destruction of one’s individualism and systematic breakdown of one’s personality to become part of a “collective”/hive mindset. The love-bombing, the sacrifice (in a very literal and figurative sense here), and the fact that it is all done hidden in plain sight. The psychology behind these concepts were brilliantly executed within the imagery in the film and Dani’s character and interaction with the “family”.
The movie is not a celebration of modern Western individualism. I am thinking about several clear individuals depicted in the film: Dani's sister, Christian and Mark. Selfish, other-destructive and self-destructive louts all.
I wouldn’t consider it a cult. Paganism predates Christianity by centuries. One gets the sense while watching this movie that this has been going on a very long time.
Something Found so well said
@Odium Generis in your misandry narrative, what was Pelle's role? Token? Tool of feminine power? Friend Zone Resident Avenger?
RainsWorld VegasSlots thank you. I survived a cult (JW- born in - escaped at 17) so for ME this nailed it from that aspect.
It’s interesting how most people found the scene where they sob with Dani to be a sudden change of comic relief, while people familiar with the the culture and people in general who are empaths and sensitive to emotions saw it as very intense and moving, feeling compelled to cry themselves. Also instantly recognizing it as the first time that Dani really feels emotional support and validation.
Another interesting thing is despite her flaws and dysfunctional traits, Dani managed to respect the culture and her deviant behavior was understandable (having a panic attack during a trip because you were triggered to flashback to recent trauma is common and nothing like peeing on a sacred tree full of the village’s dead loved ones. The British couple lashed out at the people over their suicide ritual and questioned their mortality despite the fact that the ritual was consensual and just a staple part of life for them, failing to recognize how many English and American cultural aspects can seem quite barbaric if your not socialized you find it normal. Dani was uncomfortable primarily due to recent trauma and her tendency to have strong emotional reactions, but she was clearly aware that it was a tradition and not her place to judge, she discussed it privately privately and was more shocked by the event itself, rather than feeling disgust and moral superiority to them).
I’m really into the coloring of your bookshelf
Thanks!
By far the best Midsommar EXPLAINED Video on UA-cam. My wife and I, really enjoyed this film and we can't stop talking about it. We definitely, love reading the comments from you esteem audience, they really know movies. Your review is very definitive, with several edits/cuts that are appropriately polished. You said you've watched this film twice and I'm curious to know if you read notes, view bullet points or just wing it during your monologue of a review. What ever your method is, it's very spot on. Finally, Florence Pugh's performance was A+...I'm sure your fans will agree!
Thank you! I write out my reviews/thoughts beforehand. Most of the time they're not complete thoughts or sentences, but ideas I want to make sure I hit upon. And that's where the editing comes in :-)
You're absolutely right on Pugh's performance. She was stellar in this and really turned in a haunting performance.
I appreciate you watching and giving me those kind words!
I think that Christian's name is a nod to the original Wicker Man. The protagonist was a devout Christian who was also tempted by lust, and like Christian, was burned alive at the end of the film.
I don't think it goes that deep. It's a nod to the white hetero Christian male demographic and the entire movie is and ode to the various pagan groups intent on plowing them under
I don't think there are any coincidences when it comes to Ari Aster's work. I think you're correct.
There is a crucial distinction between the 2 movies in that Edward Woodward's character doesn't succumb to temptation - this is crucial because they only want him for the sacrifice because he's a virgin, if he'd slept with the barmaid they would have had to let him go...
NOT THE BEES!!!!!!!
@@potatobutt6736 Not that movie.
I was struck by how often characters were framed in mirrors or reflections, especially during two early dialogue scenes. Instead of shot-reverse-shot, we get a oner with a reflection somewhere in frame that captures the off-screen character. It's not always Dani who's in the reflection, but she's always isolated from others by the reflection. I only remember examples of this from before they get to Sweden though. Only saw the film once, so I could have missed something.
Yes, there were a few of those shots. I'm not sure of significance, but I did notice each time and absolutely loved the creativity of those scenes.
@@MoviesAndMunchies There was that scene when Dani was having the bad shrooms trip and she went to the bathroom and saw her dead sister's face in the mirror. There was also a long shot of Maja in the mirror when we are first introduced to her.
Also, I think the long table they were eating on towards the end (after Dani is crowned May Queen) was a mirror. I remember being struck by how the characters' faces were lit up as if by some kind of beam. I thought it was the silverware reflecting the sunlight but then I realized the table itself was a mirror.
Not exactly what Andrew is referring to, but after the beginning I was looking out for instances with mirrors.
also i love watching them collect the hay for the burning in the background of basically the whole movie. like seriously as soon as they get there you can see them reaping and bailing hay. goes through the whole fuckin film.. really made me laugh on the second watch.. the seeds of their fate right there the whole time
Great catch! I hadn't noticed!
This movie was equal parts good and frustrating. I cannot believe how they kept making so many missteps. Drinking this and eating that. However, I could not find one character to root for. I was more upset about the bear. 😫 And why when she saw cheating, she didn't choose anger, she choose more sadness. Any woman at that point would have flipped all the way out. Everybody catching hands. The entire semi-circle. I want to see this movie again.
Women react many different ways to witnessing infidelity. That’s truly unfair to say any woman would flip out.
I know because when it happened to me I shut down and went into full reboot, and then experienced every single emotion in the book, but it was all under the umbrella of sadness.
I saw it as her release of grief. By seeing Christian she realizes what she had been denying to herself, which was the end of their relationship. That was yet another loss in her life. The reaction was so guttural that I think it was all of the emotions that brought her up to that point. And I too was upset by the bear!
Seriously? They kill 9 people in this movie and you’re worried about a bear?
@@darkdemonqueen The bear seemed nice enough, can't same the same for rest.
Another small detail on the “influence” section. If you notice, the flowers actually move along with her heartbeat. Specifically, the pink ones that open and close resemble the valves of her heart and follow her heart rate. I love the line, “It even appears the trees are breathing,” I picked it up on my second viewing and it shifted how I viewed the drug.
I love how the movie worked on 2 levels.(perhaps more) There was obviously an awful ending in the context of the story, Danny has lost her mind ,joined the cult, and is sadistically smiling as her boyfriend burns. But in the context of metaphorical meaning behind the story , it was beautiful and sentimental.
It was Danny finally accepting the madness that took place in her own family ,instead of turning to her "drug" Christian that relieved her temporarily by allowing her to avoid thinking about what happened, but suppressing is the worst sin of all. I think the movie was bright and in the light as a direct metaphor for how sometimes shining a light and facing your deepest darkest feelings is equally frightening. The cult represented family and facing death and the grief caused from the death of loved ones ,instead of hiding from it. Danny's smile was finding peace in letting go and embracing her emotions.
Idk perhaps I'm just an optimist in thinking the meaning was totally positive, but it was pretty well layered where I imagine there's several ways someone can interpret it. Heriditary felt much more like a horror film because I felt there wasn't really a silver lining interpretation. Midsommar felt more like a rated R extra freaky Alice in Wonderland-like journey of self discovery.
*Midsommar felt more like a rated R extra freaky Alice in Wonderland-like journey of self discovery.* ...Spot-on reference, my friend! : )
I knew there had to be something more to the beginning. That’s been bugging me since I saw the movie. My friends (who loved the movie) said it was just a way to get her grieving. But I love how you point out that without the beginning, she’s not able to take on a new family. That makes me like the movie even more. Well done, sir! Ha
Thank you! Glad it helped!
I just finished watching it today. I thought Pelle had something to do with it; they were not the best of friends, but he knew her and her family’s story. He knew she would come with them. Maybe he helped with Dani’s sister’s suicide and with her parents’ murders? They were killed in weird fashion, wickedly similar to the commune killings. Just my thought.
Jesse Figueroa He says he knew because the boyfriend told him. I don’t think the two were supposed to be related at all. But hey, it’s art! So take it as you may
@@mitch3297 Sure thing, still, did you notice Pelle's sympathetic remarks to her in Cristian's apartment? I can't help but to think that they were all lured intentionally with a pre-determined story that was drawn all over in the walls of the commune.
Dani's hurt and emptiness would eventually escalate with her boyfriend's betrayal, and thus was manipulated; I feel like she filled a void to justify the helplessness that was being controlled by her new family.
The other important dynamic of her family was that it was yet another dysfunctional, codependent situation. The family revolves around the sister’s illness and similar to her relationship with Christian, Dani had to sacrifice her own need for support to participate in her own family. Dani is someone who had never experienced a relationship in Which her emotions and needs were important. All of her relationships had to be dissolved in order for her to break free of her self-sacrificing persona. Bummer that her new empathetic family requires literal sacrifices.
It would be helpful if you showed movie clips or stills, some actual pictures for us to relate to.
I'd like to, but even the short clips I already use can get me copyright strikes on my channel, so to add more puts me at greater risk. Also, I wanted to find pics of some of the paintings and couldn't...but someone sent the Instagram account of the artist who has 2 pieces featured in the film so I linked that in the description of this vid.
Movies And Munchies what a perfect answer! Subbed!
@@rebeccasmith7041 Thanks!
Just take a screenshot from the scene youre talking about. I dont think Ive ever seen someone get a strike for using stills.
@@HaiTharImDavid I have received copyright claims from using stills. Then the studio takes my revenue. Doesn't happen often, but it has happened a handful of times on my reviews.
When they first get to the commune, one of the Elders says "Welcome." to everyone except for Dani to which he says "Welcome Home."
Oooh! Good catch, YES!
@@MoviesAndMunchies i also thought i saw the symbol from cult in hereditary on a door to one of the communities buildings but it could've just looked similar and not actually been the same symbol.
I'm going to have to check that out now!
@@MoviesAndMunchies i could be wrong and just thought it was because i was trying really hard to try and connect the 2 films somehow!
Exactly. Her parents lived there before.
Hi !
At the beginning of the video you talk about this movie not being as multilayered as Hereditary, and I may beg to differ (though it's far-fetched).
After watching the movie I went on TvTropes to check some fun trivia or details I had missed, and in the 'Maybe magic, maybe mundain' trope something calls back to a crown of flowers that can be seen in Dani's parents room.
That led to the very interesting theory that maybe Pelle killed Dani's family to lure her to the village.
He's the only one who seems knowledgeable about her parents death, and seems more excited about her coming to sweden than any of the others. When they get off the plane and see girls on the sidewalk Mark ask why all the girls here are hot. Josh answer that's because vikings brought them back here by force in the middle age. Since the times changed they now rely on guile instead to bring back women to the village to reduce inbreeding.
When we meet his friend Ingemar and the english couple, Connie and simon, he says that he dated her first and she corrects him even saying she didn't know they were on a date when it happened, giving a hint that maybe he was also trying to bring back a breeder to the village and failed since she chose another partner.
When she is crowned the May Queen he gives her a deep kiss, as if he takes for granted that she is now his, or at least promised to him.
When they choose the villagers for the sacrifice, Pelle is seen with a crown while an Elder congratulate him for his clairvoyance, as if he did the necessary to bring someone who would stay there after the festival (Killing her entire family and pitting her against Christian so she has no reason to go back). His friend Ingemar volunteers himself as sacrifice, since he failed to have connie join the village as her mate.
I'll have to watch it again to see if it really makes sense though, but it could hold up.
You're right it is very layered. Sometimes my mouth moves faster than my brain. I do, however, think this was a more straightforward story than Hereditary. Even though there is a lot to unpack in Midsommar, there is a lot that is predictable. I never felt that way in Hereditary - I didn't see anything coming until perhaps the second before it actually happened.
The theory of Pelle being involved in Dani's family's death is definitely interesting. I'll have to chew on that. I truly appreciate your feedback and contributions to this discussion!
@@MoviesAndMunchies Hi again ! Thanks for answering, it is indeed a lot of fun to talk about the movie, I believe that Ari Aster is above many in terms of Foreshadowing and of the most basic rule: Show, don't tell.
And about the Pelle theory, I just had another flash: During Dani's first call with Chris, she mentions that even he thought that her last email didn't sound like her usual self, as if she was already dead and someone else wrote it in her stead.
Definitely got to watch it again :P
Very astute, I was thinking Pelle was into Dani long before the festival.
@@rhyll-annffiain6491 The power of collective analysis !
💡
The film was beautifully shot, the scenery was fantastic and foreboding tone built like an unavoidable car crash from the opening scene to the final shot.
I wasn’t initially on-board with the fact her families tragedy wasn’t more fully fleshed out and explained, but it met its singular purpose of establishing the source of Dani’s unimaginable grief. If she wasn’t able to sell that to the audience the entire film wouldn’t have worked imo. I don’t think the film itself is Óscar worthy, but Pugh’s performance was nuanced and absolutely mesmerizing. I hope she recognized for her efforts come award season.
Some thoughts:
I’m assuming Pelle’s sole purpose behind inviting Christian to the fest was to have his his progeny made part of the groups gene pool (and die in cosplay bear costume:-) Dani integration in the group was a “happy” accident.
Was there any significance to the crying baby in the dorm? It just seemed odd that no one appeared to be tending to it. It just seemed a bit odd to me.
Were Josh, Mark and Simon still dead men walking even if they hadn’t offended the elders?
The look of horror on the “volunteers” faces when the torches lit the hay and they realized that their deaths were meaningless and there was no turning back is burned in my brain forever.
I also threw my stuffed bear out with the trash when I got home 😩
Some more thoughts after watching the movie a second time...
I took a closer look at the mural that foreshadows Christian and Maja's sexual liason. I don't think that the panel which shows the boy with big eyes is meant to convey that he falls in love with the woman. I see the same "big eyes" on Christian and they are definitely an effect of the drugs he has taken.
Josh clearly knows what is going to happen at the cliffs ceremony, yet chooses not to reveal this to either of his friends but especially Dani. He knew what happened to her family, and she EXPLICITLY equates the death of the two elders to the deaths of her parents. Feel a little bit less sorry for what happens to him.
Ditto for Mark. He's the only one in the group who didn't see the ättestupa festival, and instead of feeling horrified at what happened, he regrets NOT staying to see it? Furthermore, later on in the film we hear the distant voice of a woman screaming. We never see what has happened, although presumedly it must be Connie. There is a camera cut to Mark to looks up at the sound of the voice. At dinner that evening, when the others discuss that Connie is gone, he doesn't mention the noise but does say, "I saw her trying to compete for the sprinting competition" which means he must have seen her RUNNING. Yet he thought nothing was wrong. Nor did he think about trying to help.
Finally, we come to Christian. Ironically, the one thing he did that most disturbs Dani (as well as other women), is the one thing he is innocent of. He isn't acting as if, "Hey, Dani's busy at the maypole, now is the chance for me to bang that hot Swede who's had her eye on me." Christian is clearly feeling more and more uncomfortable, and I think he had less choice in the matter than it appears. Still, what a piece of work! When Dani is dancing at the maypole growing more and more exhausted, Christian is the ONLY one not giving her encouragement. (He hasn't yet drunk the drugged drink yet, so that can't be an excuse.) Dani deserves better than this guy. Does he deserve to burn to death in a bearskin? He has only himself to blame for what happened.
One more thing before I go. With the notable exception of Dani and Connie, the others don't seem to be bothered by anything happening around them until it actually happens to them personally. No wonder it's so easy for the local to pick these outsiders off one by one until the very end.
>With the notable exception of Dani and Connie, the others don't seem to be bothered by anything happening around them
The English guy is super upset by what happens at the ceremony - visibly more so than Dani, who appeared no more concerned than Christian.
Actually he had already had a drink right as he sat down to watch them dance around the maypole. The woman handing it to him said it was to lower his defenses. He tried to give it back at first, but he eventually just says screw it and drinks it
Good points. I'm trying to remember what happened to Mark after the girl said "come with me" you didn't see him again
I loved how well the music help with the atmosphere of the scenes. Then showing that the locals were playing that music and we were experiencing the same feelings as the characters was super effective in creating anxiety and fear for them as a viewer. I was spent by the time this movie was over. It was great.
Absolutely!
Good breakdown....the period drink I spotted right away as well! I noticed the bear in the initial pic as well! Noticed her smirk at the end. Movie was beautifully shot
Yup, Yup i told people when I left the theater who were confused and hated it,,, everything was told or revealed in some way before happened. It was paced slowly enough to catch most of it at least I saw it
Movie just wasnt good
I went to see it alone so I could view it with no distractions. It was great but I’m regretting it a bit because now I have no one to discuss certain aspects of the film with! I loved that everything that happened to Dani at the “Midsommar festival” mirrored what was going on in Dani’s life back home and her relationship with Christian. Never had a film cause such a feeling of dread in me, even before anything disturbing happened. The ending made me feel bad for Dani, she went from leaning on Christian to be her rock to leaning on the “family”. I just wanted her to be her own strength! I guess it was sort of a bittersweet ending. To be honest I need to see it again before I can fully process my thoughts. I love a film that gets better with multiple viewings! I’ve seen some videos on the film and I think yours is my favourite so far. Subscribing!
Thanks! I too love films that have so many layers and that you can watch over and over and gain new insights.
new favorite movie. any flaws we might see could probably be solved by watching it again, which will (in my mind) always be a pleasure. the score is also immaculate
The painting in the beginning reminds me of the opening credits of Dark where once you've seen the entire thing you recognize all of the symbols to tell the entire plot.
YES! Love that show so much!!
This is a dumb little thing that I noticed but just wanted to share.. when the group is eating the meat pies and we see that Christian’s drink is slightly orange, we can also see that his meat pie is the only one with a leaf under it, so even before he pulled the hair out of his mouth you may have been able to tell that something was up. I just really enjoy little details like that and didn’t know where I could share it otherwise :)
Yes! I think the leaf under the pie was to differentiate Christian's from everyone else...I appreciate you sharing and joining in the conversation!
I just saw this movie and as an empath I was very moved. Both of the film's I've seen from this director seen very empathy based, and if you're not an empathetic person you wouldn't understand his film's. As I watched this movie, I was torn between feeling absolute horror at their traditions, to trying to understand other cultures differences, and what Americans do that they themselves might find horrifying.
I agree 10000%. I too consider myself an empath. Like Dani, I just went through a horrible breakup. I think you are right that you hsve to be able to relate to the characters in this movie in order to truly enjoy it. I think I will skip the meat pie though. 🤢
Right on the money. Maybe also bc I was a little more than tipsy watching it, but I totally get where you're coming from. Afterwards, I didn't really feel as though I watched a horror film. I don't consider myself an empath, just highly sensitive, but I would looooovve to watch/read an empath's take on this film.
I don't ever go watch a movie a second time at a theater but I may for this one. Or I'll just wait to analyze it more when it comes to DVD.
Either way you do it, it's definitely worth the rewatch for analysis!
It was brutal , disturbing , shocking , I’m still in shock
I think that the women crying with Dani after she discovers Christian cheating is a direct contrast to the scene in the beginning in which she is mourning her family, sobbing uncontrollably, and Christian is just sitting there, practically emotionless. She is finally being given the support and empathy that she never received from him in her time of need.
i know i’m late to the party but is saw this the week it came out and have thought about the details a lot since. just as you exemplified in this video, christian is intensely apathetic and absent in his relationship with dani. one metaphor i’ve interpreted is that his apathy takes on a physical embodiment once the commune drugs him so that he can’t move or speak. he basically gets a taste of his own medicine, in an extreme sense, of how he’s acted in his relationship with dani. other than that, i love that you mentioned the bear poster from the beginning of the film, i noticed it and was trying to think what it may mean during the film and forgot about it by the time they were on the plane.
Great catch on the apathy! Thanks for sharing this!
I just watched this movie last week and it provoked a lot of thought. Dani was played so well, her grief and isolation so palpable. Once her family died, all she had was Christian. She clung on to him even though he was terrible. She wasn't allowed to grieve properly and was stuck in a toxic relationship because he literally was all she had left. So she apologized and put up with his mistreatment as to not lose the only "support" she had left. The movie did a great job of displaying her loneliness and isolation throughout the process. It's not until she's among the Harga, that she begins to feel the sense community and acceptance that she's been longing for. That void and her vulnerability are easily fulfilled by the hivemind of the commune. They are truly a unit that feel together, raise each other, and experience everything as a whole. It almost makes me think she was meant to be there the whole time, the elder greeting everyone even tells her "Welcome home." At the end, when they are burning the triangle house, I feel the villagers are not only empathizing with the pain of those burning inside, but are also releasing the bad affekts that they harbor, which will allow them to be renewed. By burning the bear (which was a symbol of what was evil and wrong), the Harga were able to be renewed, as was Dani who was finally able to find release and rid herself of the toxicity (Christian) in her life and be accepted into a "family" where she finally felt at home.
Well said!
i still have questions about the grains and slab of meat that they planted after Dani became May Queen, was that meat taken from one of the main characters? and what does whatever it grows into represent?
This is my first time on your channel. I'm super excited that you addressed the connection between the murder-suicide in the beginning with the end of the film. I've seen many people say that the film isn't as good because the first part doesn't matter and that it gets "dropped" or "leads to nothing". It took me some time thinking about it but I eventually made the connection. I knew one was there I just hadn't found it. You also made this connection. Good job! I'm now subscribed.
Awesome! I'm glad you found my channel. I'm also glad I was able to confirm the connection for you. I saw several too after I posted this that said that same thing - that the beginning led to nothing...
Actually, I think a more interesting discussion would revolve around a comparison between Hereditary and Midsommar. Some obvious points: 1) The visual that opens Midsommar lays out the storyline to come, essentially suggesting a theme of determinism, a controlling idea already much discussed about Hereditary 2) that both Hereditary and Midsommar contain parallel visual representations of the action depicted within the film: Annie Graham's eerie miniatures in Hereditary, and of course the opening visual in Midsommar along with the graphics that appear throughout the film. 3) Pain, loss and sacrifice in the context of neo-paganism.
Excellent analysis! This was such a thematically layered film and one that can be interpreted and analyzed on so many different levels. Definitely a film that devoted a lot of attention to detail and demands that same attention from its viewers. Luckily I expected that going in, so I was able to appreciate the artwork foreshadowing and noticed things like the red drink, but I'm sure there's a lot of stuff I still missed and I can't wait to rewatch it because I think it's one that I'll grow to appreciate even more. The relationship aspects of this story really drove the film thematically, but I also appreciated the family dynamics as well, especially as Dani was progressively integrated into the "family" of the community. The group screaming/wailing changes from being something frightening to an unsettling act of solidarity.
I also really loved the dual-meaning of 'midsommar' itself. We've got the midsommar festival which is the catalyst for everything, but since this story is truly focused on our main characters and their own personal issues with relationships, growing up, etc. there's also a connection there as well. This Swedish community relates a person's life to the seasons: 0-18 = spring, 18-36 = summer, 36-54 = fall, and 54-72 = winter. Our core characters are PhD students and in their late-20s... metaphorically, mid-summer in their lives!
Great catch on the dual-meaning of Midsommar! That is spot on!!
Thanks! I love movies that can be interpreted in so many ways, yet are still satisfying even on the most superficial entertainment level.
Just saw the film, and was left wondering..
• did pelle stage her sisters murder/suicide
• there was a part mid movie where a close up of Dani’s eyes go from hazel to green - meaning what?
• the plane heavily rattling during the flight
• I’m thinking a drop of “yan?” tree oil doesn’t actually stop pain and fear?
• was the group spectacle actually showing real emotional support, or was it cheap theatrical manipulation to brainwash Dani and win her over to the side of the group?
Great questions! I'm not sure on Pelle's part in the murder/suicide, but I can definitely see it happening. I missed her eyes changing color, but having hazel eyes myself, mine change from hazel to green or blue sometimes. I remember the turbulence on the plane standing out to me too...but I chalked it up to going outside the plane in the rushing air, but there's most likely a truer meaning. Haha on the tree oil. I think they needed to drink that bottle rather than get just a drop! I still believe the group was showing support rather than manipulation, although I think it ends with similar results. Thanks for joining in the discussion!
In regards to the plane rattling, I feel like it was a foreshadowing almost. Nice peaceful scenery out the window then everything just kind of crumbles right in front of you.
@@craigg8574 I like that observation!
Your review was awesome and helped explain so much. Was curious if you ever watched the Netflix OA and if you saw any reference/ links to the show? There was a dance part right when the outsiders go to the commune that was super close to a part in OA and it struck me as interesting.
Thank you! Yes! When they would suck in air and some of the dance movements definitely reminded me of the OA! Love that show!!
i would have never picked up on the "A" building concept that's brilliant
Thanks! I didn't catch it the first time I saw it.
Not sure if anyone mentioned it yet, but the art above Dani's bed is by swedish artist, John Bauer. It's a classic fairy tale art series that probably all scandinavians recognised instantly www.wikiart.org/en/john-bauer/she-kissed-the-bear-on-the-nose
Thanks for sharing this!
The grieving thing freaked me out at first but hearing the meaning it’s kinda beautiful
Yeah, it was weird at first. Once we realize it's them showing compassion, it definitely changes the feeling!
Oh man, great catch on the A shaped building. That's pretty important.
anyone have any thoughts as to why scissors were placed in the babies crib?
Madison McVay not sure if this is why, but in medieval times some people believed scissors could ward off evil spirits and witches
Some things I still don’t understand. Can someone help?
1) why did they put scissors under the baby’s pillow
2) why did it seem like the baby was a huge part in the movie. It never stopped crying
3)were maya & Christian related? Incest was talked about a lot in the movie & they mentioned how having an incest child in planned
4) what happened to Connie?
1. I read another comment in a different video that the scissors were a superstition about placing iron under the pillows of children to ward off faeries.
2. Could be the representation of innocence? or a warning to the others like a siren? IDK
3. Interesting theory, but I don't see how.
4. She was sacrificed and I'm pretty sure can be seen in one of the wheelbarrows at the end.
3. One of the elders says that they bring new ppl and approve them for mating so they werent related.
Has anyone considered that the cult was behind the murder/suicide of Dani’s parents? If you rewatch the bedroom scene, there’s a flower crown and the small flower trinkets are in the bedroom. They might’ve compelled her sister to finally kill them and Dani did then get a mysterious phone call
Maybe. I hope not.
Best breakdown of this film I've seen so far. Really appreciate this
Thank you!!
I hope this makes sense, as I’m very excited to try and explain my thoughts. At 12:13 you talk about the elders and, you mention how horrible that man fell, made me realize that this movie is all about breakups. Well when we are first introduced to this couple, you see the man following the woman in everything they do. Maybe the man was more in love with the woman, like a switched around Dani and Christian. So at that scene where they fall, you see the woman go first. To me this represents how she was more committed to actually giving her life, where as he was always following and seeming unsure. When he does fall, it didn’t go as smooth- maybe because he wasn’t really to leave that life with her. We notice that the family isn’t as reactive to her as they were to him, just like when we have a breakup our friends are going to want to make us feel no pain. Usually one person is hurt most after the breakup. So the family was showing empathy for the man because he was most hurt by the fact that their lives would no longer be together, like a breakup. She was ready and finally got the courage to end so the family is actually ok with witnessing her death.
Well said! This makes a lot of sense and I can certainly see this as part of the meaning. Thanks!!
Theres a lot of comments sorry if I repeated a discussion if so tag me in it... did anyone notice the flower wreath next to the sleeping parents .... or the face in the trees when dani became may queen.
I didn't and I'm not sure anyone else pointed that out. I'm definitely going to be looking for those on my next viewing of it! Thank you!
@@MoviesAndMunchies I'm going back on tuesday for 5 dollars tuesdays , with some more people
I noticed that, too. I wonder if it was Pelle all along who killed her parents and sister.🤔🤪
@@RipleyE-we1hj I saw it again last night It would be interesting if it was pelle. However i want to believe the sister did it I think it's more fucked up. And also no matter how messed up their community is I dont think murdering and framing people is apart of their beliefs.
@@WaffleNova It is definitely more fucked up. Both scenes with the hose taped in her mouth will be permanently etched on my mind, among other scenes. Perhaps framing is not part of their beliefs, but murder is a possibility. Pelle must've been desperate to find a queen lol.
Seriously, I would love to see a 3-hour version of this film once it's released on blu-ray.
I wish they did that with Hereditary blu-ray release since Ari initially wanted that to be a 3-hour film.
Excellent review!! Because of your outstanding review, I will watch this movie a second time with your insight. Your review was so excellent that I subscribed.
Thank you! I hope your second viewing is enjoyable as you notice more and that it gives a more rich viewing experience!
I wonder if the empathetic sharing of emotion, pain, and pleasure was only just a sympathetic motion by the family and not some unexplained connectedness. I say this because during the dance scene Danny spoke Swedish even though she didn’t know the language. When she allowed herself to be free in the dance the shared connection between her and the other women transferred the ability to speak the language. It also seemed like during the scenes of dany weeping and the the sex ritual and the botched suicide, the experience seemed to be a real sensation to those participating.
I took it as the community is a whole so when someone else feels something it resonates with all of them. Energy entwined to make it easier for the community to exist. Just a thought
MsDestructo They for sure had intertwining energy but how would you explain her ability to speak Swedish?
@@kylejackson3962 it's better examined in the raw script which you can read online. I just started it a few days ago
To have another person acknowledge your grief, confusion and deep inner pain would be therapeutic. Instead of ignoring it, denying it, putting a mask on to try and be ‘happy’ without help. I mean, the friend tells Christian in the trailer, ‘dude, she needs therapy’ and he’s right- she does. But the group of boys Dani travels with are unable or unwilling to sympathize with her- the main person who should, Christian, was checked out. So- there in halsingland- all the togetherness, the violent rituals, force Dani into therapy. And- her perpetual clinging to Christian is expertly destroyed in front of her, clearly, with no room for vagueness- he wants to be with other women- he does not want Dani anymore. She had to have it displayed in front of her naked eye to finally be able to acknowledge that it’s over for them. Painful, but with the other girls taking on her feelings - her pain is validated - instead of ignored by the boys who don’t want her on their trip. Dani keeps talking to herself in the movie, ‘what’s wrong with me? Stop it, stop it!’ - and it’s all internal- not spoken aloud. But when there’s the group grieving - it’s aloud- exposed to the air - exposed to rip it out of Dani’s psyche - instead of the damaging effects of self destruction she was downward spiraling in. I can’t believe what an all encompassing director this young man is. He has a knack for psychological intuitiveness in his writing, imagery and directing. Wow.
Well said! Ari Aster has done a phenomenal job at storytelling and world-building. His ability to draw us in, mess with our heads and terrify us in a way we never saw coming is astounding.
Love your thoughtful analysis of Midsommar. A few critics disliked that Dani’s loss of her family (shown in the first 20 minutes of the film) was not referenced again at all later in the movie. Maybe I saw a different movie, because I thought that her major tragedy *was* harkened back to during subsequent parts of the story. At the very least, it was the impetuous that started Dani along the journey of becoming accepted into her *new* family and into a new life with them.
Completely agree! I didn't get when I read others talking about how the parents' death led nowhere and didn't fit...you and I both were apparently seeing different movies :-)
Yeah why would you pencil off the cliff lolololol
I thought the same thing. I feel bad for laughing when you described it as penciling.
Oh, the influences tragedy is laden with.
Seduction requires consent.
Christian was a narcissist.
Was Pelles kiss an invitation for a coupling with Dani?
Very interested in viewing the director's cut.
Saw the movie twice thus far.
The coldness the community had toward the caged bear made me very uncomfortable.
It was simply an object to them--- much like pigs, turkeys, chickens, cows and sea creatures eaten as food by human beings are written off as objects instead of the sentient beings in actuality they are.
Just watch this movie last night. What a trip! One thing I picked up was Pelle said his family was killed in a fire when he was 5. That made me think his parents volunteered and were sacrificed. (Unless I miss something.) I also feel bad for Christian. He was in a relationship he felt trapped in and stuck around when a lot of dudes wouldn’t have. I wish the writer would have saved him at the end. I think that would have been a surprising twist. Thanks for the review!
I've read that this is a commentary on Sweden's move to the far right. I think that is an oversimplification but notice they choose the white girl to make May Queen and the white boy to have the ritualized sex. There was no way they would have used the British kids who were Indian and the black friend would never have been used as a reproduction tool. I have seen it once but will see again. Many questions I wonder about. Why did the 2 younger men accept the sacrifice at the end. It would have been better for older people to sacrifice themselves. Was this a village used for the festival? Did the people then move back to a normal life? This was said to be a once every 90 year occurrence but people committed a ritualized suicide at 72. Was the Swedish friend who brought the Americans lying? It seemed like cultists of college age were sent off as recruiters to bring in people to sacrifice and use to repopulate the cult. Love the film and it reminded me of course The Wicker Man but also The Village and Magnolia. The final scene when Dani smiles at the end it is her first real sense of joy just like the character Claudia in Magnolia who smiles for the first time in the last shot. Also loved the score which I hope is available to buy.
I think the guy from the cult, I can't recall his name, picked Dani as his chance to bring home the next May Queen. Especially since he is rewarded. The way he studied the table and drew it shows just how much of an observer he is. Dani already had some kind of problems. Her sister was bipolar, and she had prescription Ativan, one of the strongest anti anxiety medications out there, not something you take for mild anxiety. So it's easy to assume she suffered some sort of mental illness as well. He saw her as weak, the type of person cults often target and recruit. Looking at the set up of the murder suicide, I really think he killed them to break Dani completely. The way the sister had the hose duct taped to her mouth and the distance from the garage, makes it seem like someone else took her life. I mean she would of had to hook the hose up to both tail pipes, start both cars, set up the hose to the master bedroom, take the other to her room, write Dani, have the fumes pumping out the hose then tape it to her mouth, with a ton of tape. The cult had drugs/methods to completely mute and paralyze people without a fight. The way they keep telling only Dani how happy they are that she came. A lot of the cult members fully embrace her instantly after meeting her. They are welcoming to all of them, but the way they greet Dani, it just feels singled out to me.
Great points! She does seem singled out and welcomed enthusiastically.
Time to throw in my two cents concerning the runes. I'm going to have to watch it again with a friend who knows them better than I do, but here's a few I did recognize.
The shape of the table before the senicide was Othala which is Family, Tradition, and Home. (Unfortunately said rune is easily recognized since neo-Nazi mouthbreathers are trying to appropriate Othala to mean Nationalism; THEY can jump off that cliff as far as I'm concerned.)
The shirt Christian was wearing before bedding Maja had the rune Tiwaz stitched into it. Tiwaz is related to the god Tyr, who sacrificed his hand to Fenrir as a symbol of good faith. So already Christian is singled out as a sacrifice.
When Josh's leg is seen sticking out of the gardens, the rune carved into his foot was Ansuz, Knowledge or Insight. Considering Josh got caught on his quest for knowledge, that's a pretty dark little joke.
Dan's blouse has Raido on it as well as another I'm not sure of, but Raido is Journey. The rune is also reversed which gives the meaning a darker turn, and could relate to the emotional turmoil that Dani is going through.
That's what I've got so far.
Spectacular! Thank you for sharing this!!
It’s kind of a feel good story when you realize it’s just about a nice girl ditching a toxic boyfriend and finding a loving family after a traumatic experience. When the women cried with Dani, grieved with her, it was beautiful. It was the empathy she needed.
Did anyone else notice how nonchalant Pelle was when they walked by the 🐻 in the cage 🤣. Dani goes ohh you have a bear and he goes yea it’s nust a bear. Little does she know it’s about to be her boyfriends resting place ! Brilliant 👌🏼
Nail on head. It's really just about leaving a horrible relationship finding new friends and getting rid of your old friends. Pelle wanted to move in on Dani, Christian wanted to leave. Revenge came at the end. Good movie
I saw an Easter Egg. The pattern of "The Shining's" carpet was on Dani's blanket . It was better in an altered state...especially when the drugs kick in for them. My favorite shot was the guy burning to death. and the shot where Dani's facial expression goes from angry to a full smile. I didn't like the audience this time as much as I liked the first plus there was a kid speaking the time, Also the audience the second time wasn't as freaked out as the first, but there were 2 women who just cursed aloud instead.
I didn't notice that! I'll be on the lookout for this on my next viewing. Thank you!!
Yeah i had some jerkoff in the theater that laughed out loud during every graphic or disturbing scene. I hate people that do that.
Yep, I noticed Christian drink darker too plus had pubic hair in his food. I used to hear that
saying growing up
LOL! Where in the world would you hear that saying growing up??
Movies And Munchies lol it was older people, but it was regarding spaghetti
In The south
Royelle yep
@@black_skies650 Yup they do things like that in voodoo rituals. My grandma always talks about it
Yes to the absolute significance of the opening sequence!
Ari Aster is the new Kubrick. He'll continue to prove that.
The last supper of the old couple is actually a precise picture of old rituals concerning ancestors. They come to the table as spirits of the dead, for whom there is always food prepared. And the moment they start eating is the "right moment" everyone is waiting for. So we see here living people playing out these roles as if they already belong to the other world.
The painting in the beginning shows "calendar". The murder suicide took place in late December, the longest night in the year. Therefore - it is the beginning.
Also you noticed that Dany took mushrooms with guilt, which resulted in this emotion manifested in her sisters face. That really fits together.
I agreed with pretty much everything you said! One point to add though is that I felt the ending was slightly ambiguous. Yes, Dani has shed her old skin to join this new family. I was happy for her in that sense, since she was so alone up until that point. However, this family has no scruples about committing murder as an end to practice its beliefs. Dani just joined a cult, lol.
Great insight about the yellow temple being shaped like an A; I didn't even think of that!! I wonder if that could represent Ari Aster too, since he said this film was based off his real life breakup?
That could be!! Thank you!
One of the best reviews of this movie I have seen on UA-cam. Subscribed.
Thank you! I really appreciate it!
Ari has said in infers that he sets up every movie he does in the first 5min.
Love this video. One thought to add to this review. Pele mentioned that he also was an orphan due to a fire causing the death of his parents. Think it was because of the sacrificial ritual at the end of Midsommar?
I think you could be right! I hadn't thought of it before, but that makes complete sense! Thank you!!
@Sparkle Plenty Keeping in mind that the hosts have been lying to the guests up until the very end. It's possible Pelle's parents never died in a fire. It's also possible that this ceremony is held more frequently than 90 years. (Although it does look like a May Queen is crowned every year, judging by the pictures.)
The picture of the bear in Danni's room is an illustration from European fairytale called 'East of the Sun, West of the Moon'. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_of_the_Sun_and_West_of_the_Moon
Movie was a cross between Deliverance and the Wicker Man. The big surprise for me was finding out that pelle was an inbred oracle.Pelle was a class A monster. He brought his friends there to be tortured and then murdered(not sacrificed, but murder).Dani at the end was a woman unhinged as the oracle predicted in the very beginning of the movie when he said Dani was crazy and he(pelle) could tell that by looking in her eyes. There was at least 3 zoom ins on just Dani's eyes and the look she was giving got progressively crazier. That entire town was filled with sick demented people who were so cavalier about committing murder and torturing people. That nonsense of screaming when the man's leg was broken made me sick, as if they were trying to drown out his painful noises and absolve themselves of their own part in his forced suicide. The woman showed Dani what Christian was up to not out of compassion but to further drive her insane and further into their demented community. I can go on and on but stuffing Christian into a dead bear after waking and then mocking him by informing him he can neither speak nor move, then that woman smiles at him.The the false hope the elder gives the men in the temple by giving them yew for pain and fear, when we see that it didnt work at all then went into the night screaming in terror and pain and the crazy people outside start to scream and hit themselves,like that makes it a-ok because we are going to pretend to feel your pain by play acting.
Funniest part of the movie was the woman pushing on Christian's buttocks while he was impregnating Miya.
Christian's name is also not chance name...it seems to pit Paganism against Christianity.
Oy Vey!!
I thought it was clever that "Dani" and "Christian" were in the second part of the cult's described 4 part, 18 year cycle. As it was likened to the seasons, Dani and Christian technically would be in the mid-summer part of their lives. Well done.
ari aster rly said the female experience is superior
Just saw the movie, loved it! The bear painting is by fantastic swedish artist John Bauer. It's called "Stackars lilla Basse!" and is an illustration in the fairy tale collection "Bland tomtar och troll".
I’ve been trying my best to figure it out myself but I’m hopeless so I’ve tried looking it up but I cannot find it so please please PLEASE talk about what the disfigured girl is supposed to mean or symbolize?!?! Does it symbolize incest or what?
It’d also be nice to know how Dani was able to understand and speak Swedish during the dance or was that a hallucination?
Something i noticed on the second watch is when josh is in the temple talking to the preist you can hear the scream of connie being killed. Next it cuts to Dani in the kitchen and you hear the same scream. Then it cuts to Mark in the feild and you hear the scream again.
I think this movie is also largely about how sedatives distracts us from obvious upcoming destructions while society through talks of tradition and religion throws us deeper and tries to make us feel a part of it all those who try to escape or rebel are dealt with and those who stay are consumed by the process. Especially how they even mimic each others response like how people do with social media
Also, notice how Dani’s parents dies during wintertime. The season where the elders life in the swedish cult, are supposed to come to an end. Just a little detail I caught while watching it. It’s honestly such an interesting and brilliant movie, and I was so disturbed yet very intrigued the whole time.
Great observation!! Disturbed but intrigued is a great way to say it - totally agree!
Thank you so much for this video!!!
Your thorough explanation sheds a lot of light on the general premise, although I think movies like that are meant to keep you in the dark a little bit and that's why it's all so subjective, yet intriguing. It's very inspiring to see you interpretation of it which actually seems pretty accurate. Love your channel!!!
Thank you! I'm sure I got some things wrong or off, but I love trying to decipher what the hidden of films are.
Very nice breakdown and interpretation of the movie. I very much agree. Especially about needing the intro scene to set up her acceptance into the new "family." That made absolute sense. Thanks for making the video and happy to be a new sub.
Thanks! Did you see the regular version or the director's cut? I only got to see the regular so I'm really interested in finding out what new stuff was added.
This film was palpable. Leaving the theatre I was so mixed up about it. But now that I can’t stop thinking about it’s symbolism, I actually kind of love this film. I think it’s quite too esoteric for pedestrians but, the imagery and ideas of language and art as means of empathy & understanding is, to me, what makes this a masterpiece.
Great review and explanation, thank you! However, can someone tell me what happened to Connie? She disappeared after Simon, and of course she was killed, but how? And where was she?
pearliemae773 at the end, when you see the hay bodies in the wheelbarrows with the skin and faces, you see her (she’s the only one with long hair)
At 3:40 - Concerning "Snow White and Rose Red"... No. The bear is called "The Black One" - the thing that must be destroyed. While both stories are Scandinavian, this bear was meant as the symbol of evil to be destroyed, not the loving protector.
Great review! Best one I’ve seen. First of all I wouldn’t call this a horror film. It’s a disturbing film but if you go into it with expectations of something like Hereditary you’ll be disappointed, maybe. I was expecting a horror film but instead what I got was a wonderfully layered film with some disturbing scenes but it’s ultimately about one girls need for acceptance and her codependence. Is she free from it in the end? I don’t really know. Maybe she’s transferring her codependency from her boyfriend to her new family. Although it was sweet to see her being fully validated in her pain and grief for once within the family so I think she will feel more fulfilled here. My reaction when it was over was, “well that’s one way to get rid of a bad boyfriend”. So I feel like the idea that this film is ultimately about the end of a relationship shines through pretty brightly. I have seen a lot of people say they were disappointed and it’s not as good as Hereditary but it’s really a whole different experience. Not horror but unsettling. I loved it but not the same way as I loved Hereditary. I cannot stress enough that I literally hated everything about Christian. He was a horrible boyfriend and a horrible friend too. I cannot think of a better ending for him than he got! Ugh, I just hated him! And if you’ve ever been in a bad relationship with someone like him you cringe every time you see Dani apologizing for having feelings that are valid. This film is long but I was engrossed from beginning to end.
Well said!!
I really would love to unravel the scene with the parents and sister more. I really think there’s a lot more going on with that.
Florence as Black Widow sister, read an article she would only accept the role if she did her own conditioning. Apparently she was very much aware of those professional demands. Managed that up front
Another thing: The names. Christian is a christian name. So is Dani. Dani means "God is my Judge". Dani is actually also a feminine variant of the male name Daniel, which means "God's is my strength".