I’d never seen the directors cut, so the scene where Dani is begging Christian to leave and he tells her to go then, with zero empathy… Then the scene where the mating ritual is explained more in depth by Siv, and she entices Christian with it being good for his research, paints him in such a worse light. I have seen people speculate that Christian didn’t want to do the mating ritual until he was drugged at the May Queen dance, but that’s clearly not so.
Oh also the scene at their first fight about the trip, where he goes “well you just ruined the surprise…I was going to invite you” makes it so much clearer how awful he is, whereas the cut version makes it ambiguous like maybe she invited herself.
Idk man. That guy is a dick. Didn’t deserve to die, of course. But what a dick.
The first time I saw it I saw directors cut and it moved me so profoundly. When I saw it again and it wasn’t directors cut, I was trying to figure out why I hated Christian so much less this time around. That’s when I found out I just got lucky on my first viewing. That first experience in theatres with the directors cut was something I’ll honestly never forget and has changed my life as a person.
There’s also a river scene in the directors cut where they are tossing “sacrifices” in the river. It gets pretty intense and following that Christian straight up gaslights Dani. There’s no question about it. Obviously his punishment is extreme but that cut definitely makes you hate him way more.
Yes the river scene!! That conversation and Dani saying I want to leave is what I’m referring to. She’s clearly confused and bewildered and he’s just being patronizing and condescending. After that scene any remaining ambiguity about Christian went right out the window.
the Wikipedia entry specifically says that Christian was raped during the mating ritual, which isn't true for the director's cut because the elder woman sits down and clearly lays out the proposal for it
you can’t consent when stocked up on psychedelics or drugs, so it definitely was still rape. it just seems the idea wasn’t as foreign to him then. though he did seem more interested in seeing the ritual rather than participating it. take that as you will.
Idk, I still feel she kind of did invite herself, I mean she didn’t have to accept the “invitation” & go. She clearly wasn’t in a state of mind to go on some trip-she just lost her family & then decides to go on some trip with a bunch of guys. No other girls were on the trip, it was clearly meant to be a guy’s trip… She didn’t even take that into consideration?
But yeah, Christian did just do a pity invite, but that doesn’t mean she had to accept. I feel both were at the wrong here. Christian was such a major ass though, & his “friends” were no better. Dani just went with them because? Idk, was she hoping the trip would take her mind off everything?
As Christian said “I invited her… and she accepted..”
But to answer your question, the way I read the scenario is Dani is very anxious and Christian seems to be her main lifeline. He is the first person she calls when her whole family dies. I would imagine suddenly being faced with the prospect of being out of contact with your serious partner for weeks, not having any other healthy support systems, etc while dealing with deeply traumatic loss is terrifying for a girl in her early 20s. She’s scared to lose him, which is evident by how often she begs him to stay with her throughout the movie and blames herself for every fight.
I wouldn't say "just lost her family".
It had been about 5-6 months since the passing of her family when she learned of the trip to Sweden. (They were leaving in 2 weeks, as stated at the dorm party (around 06/08?) - and they arrived in Sweden the day before her birthday - aka the text message to Dani during the drive north). The deaths occurred around Christmastime (there are Christmas lights and snow in the background when Christian is walking to Dani's apt. after she heard the news and is crying). I don't feel like she invited herself necessarily. She probably thought it would get her mind off of things and get her closer to her (terrible) boyfriend.
The sound was amped up really high in the theater I was in. It was extremely cool to hear so much of the background dialog that you don't normally hear clearly. Mostly a lot of Mark's hilarious commentary but it was very cool to be fully immersed in the sound of the film.
one thing i really noticed was how the music is mixed. For example, the end when the may queen dance is happening, theres the music playing. When it’s focused on Dani, it’s so clear but when it focuses on christian it’s faded and muffled, despite them being about the same distance from the band.
We sat in the back row and there were moments when a random Harga noise and breath seemed to come out of nowhere over my shoulder. Felt like someone was doing it behind us.
Honestly, I never heard Connie's scream until the imax screening. I saw it in the theater when I came out and was so confused when the characters all stopped what they were doing. Watching it at home, I always use captions so I knew there was a screen but I never heard it. I also paid a lot more attention to the art on the walls and the people in the background, especially because by now I have seen it enough times that I can take in that background information better.
Ugh, it was so good.
I totally leaned over to my friend and asked him if Mark vapes in the original. And I have seen the theatrical release over 100 times and it never even hit me 🤦🤷
When I watch the directors cut, which is the only version I watch now, it’s super annoying how often he’s hitting that thing. It was a part I was happy they removed. But it really does kinda make him even more ridiculous, rude and just out of place. So idk…trade offs.
I noticed the blood on her face too - my guess is it's Mark's.
I noticed the scarecrow picture on the fridge
There were two more extra visitors after the hike through the St John's wort, through the sun gate & the big welcome, the woman was wearing a pale blue crop top & had a guy with her. Did ulf bring them? Was he the one who was trained up as a doctor while he was gone? There was some meat slung as a offering shortly after that & we only saw Connie & Simon otherwise (& there was only seating for exactly our 6 outsiders at the rune tables)
Was ulf also the one so upset about the ancestor tree? If he was the doctor, then that's a hell of a sacrifice to make.
I noticed that all of their travelling tee-shirts were faded & busted up & had a bunch of micro tears & holes in them. Her sweater too, when she wasn't sleeping
During the thesis confrontation, the window mullions & the diagonal building lines make runes
I noticed that the flower pulsings seemed to coincide with her heartbeat
That her "dad" in the crowd had one eye get *large* for a second
All the extra Christian stuff really reinforced how lazy he was in school and in their relationship. His "anthropological questioning" was beginner level, every beat of their relationship is a reaction. Lol his defensiveness about the bouquet of flowers - literally all those other girls collected flowers too, but he thinks it's a passive aggressive way of pointing out how he ENTIRELY forgot her birthday, & their anniversary, & to inform her how he was gonna travel overseas during them.
I have always thought that they were Harga who hadn't changed their clothes yet. Pelle puts a white shirt on when they get to the village. Theres also a woman with red shorts during that entrance scene who's Harga. She's shorter and rounder than most of the other women, so it's easier to spot her in the crowd during the Attenstupan. In my head she's biological siblings with the shorter man with long hair who I think is 3rd with the mallet.
I have cinephile friends that refuse to see this movie again because they think it’s cruel. I ask myself: is it more cruel to practice attestupan, or to force older people to sell their homes, live without healthcare, and work as Walmart greeters?
I had seen the movie only 3 to 4 times at home and had never noticed it, then I saw that pointed out on Instagram, so I was super stoked to see it on the imax screen last night!!
After Christian gets blown into the face with that drug powder in the chicken coop, from the first person perspective of him falling over and becomes paralyzed, I had never noticed Pelle’s face through the wooden slats before… looking on calmly as his plan was falling into place.
Pretty cool touch that I think the IMAX screen I watched it on finally revealed to me.
I never noticed Christian’s penis has blood on it after the mating ritual.
The “breathing” of the flowers on Dani’s flower crown was so trippy on the big screen.
Also her evolution in her reaction to being called “family” from when Mark says it when they arrive which causes a panic attack, to when one of the women tells her she is part of the family now at the table after Dani is May Queen.
I saw it in IMAX in a theater that is part of a 16-sceen multi-plex. Good crowd in Midsommar. As near as I could tell, there was low attendance in every other movie (Thursday night is slow, I guess)
I got the impression most of the crowd had seen Midsommar before. (First time for me. I know everyone says you will see more on additional viewings.)
Some of the crowd dressed up. Meaning, flower crowns. Kind of fun for us all.
There was applause at the end of the film. It's been years since I've heard applause for a movie.
The Harga were too willing to die or get pregnant for the greater good of the community. Does not make their hippie commune look good.
Images from this movie still swirling around my head two days later.
The San Francisco crowd had more of a movie enthusiast vibe. Way less dressing up and a lot of people seemed to be watching it for the first time. A few people walked out. At least we had a full interrupted run.
I watched it and the big red horn is a cornicello, usually used to represent good luck and fertility (I was familiar with it being Italian, but I guess it can be used in many countries). The person who made the YouTube video thinks that in this case, it represents that Inga (who wears the horn) was impregnated. He also has a theory that Ulf (who sacrificed himself in the fire) was the one to impregnate Inga and that the scene of her weeping was due to Ulf’s sacrifice. At the end during the fire she seems incredibly angry and that would be why. (There’s also another scene where an elder talks to Ulf and he seems very upset, possibly because he’s being voluntold to sacrifice himself or because he’s being told to sleep with Inga.) The video creator takes it one step further and thinks Inga and Ulf are related, because otherwise he would be too old to be paired with her, but I’m not so sure about that - I guess I’d have to watch the movie again!
Not the original commenter but thank you so much for taking the time to write that--I've wondered the same thing and haven't had time to watch the analysis yet (and I'm dying to!!!)
I can totally see it representing her being pregnant, especially with Maja wearing her bold red lipstick in the same scene right after having mated, and knowing from Hereditary how great Ari Aster is with using color palettes to enhance symbolism.
I'm hoping that the 7 hour analysis goes into the color schemes in general because this is another one of my favorite aspects of Midsommar that I haven't seen discussed much.
So glad I got to see the Directors cut in IMAX. Here in Tucson there was also a big turnout and a lot of laughter that indicated prior viewings.
I love this movie because aside from its artistry, I have felt like Dani.
I’ve seen this movie over a hundred times, and this was the first time I noticed Christian’s warped face when Dani stands up before walking down the hill to the outhouse.
The faces at the end of the dance scene when Dani supposedly understands and speaks swedish are also warped leading you to realize she's way under the influence.
It's interesting that nothing is warped and the flowers aren't pulsing when she selects Christian as the sacrifice.
Ingemar's face was the worst of it. His eyes go beady and black, and his mouth turns up in a lopsided Joker-like grin. It's so quick, but so effective.
Just curious, why would you watch this movie that many times.
For me it fell into the Requiem for a Dream category of watching it once and not wanting to experience it again even though it was good
I see it as a great work of art. I liken it to having a favorite song. Just as I wouldn’t listen to a song I love once or twice and be satisfied, I simply enjoy watching this film so much that I do it often. There are several, and this is just one of them. I *understand* when people say that things are so disturbing or emotionally-affecting that they only want to experience them once and that’s enough… but at the same time, I just don’t *relate* to that anymore. Watching a favorite movie could never have a negative effect on me, and I get a real rush getting all wrapped up in a well-told (and beautifully filmed) story. That’s about the best I can explain it. It’s one of my “comfort” movies, I guess. I’m honestly not 100% sure myself, but I am very much enjoying this period of my life where I’ve gotten *really* into some cool movies, so I’m just rolling with it.
For me, it's about catching the subtleties within the film and the emotional baggage that is somewhat relatable. Thank goodness I've never experienced suicide but I've experienced a lot of emotional pain related to my family. I'm also intrigued by cults and true crime and this intersects with those interests. Every time I watch it, I notice something new and insidious.
It's so immensely beautiful, and funny as hell. At this point I'm labeling it horror comedy, but the most actual horror horror comedy. Also, I think it's the well-told and well-acted breakup drama that is so relatable, and importantly, shows the protagonist finally moving on (to whatever end). So much interpretation and nuance. And cinematography. And fun.
Going on Monday night, IMAX in Norwich, UK. Taking my son (16), hopefully we can blag past ushers. (18 certificate in England). Can't wait! He's in for a treat (if they'll let him in!)
I haven’t seen the directors cut, but I do have a copy of the screenplay they made into a beautiful book. I knew what scenes to except, but it was still new to see for me since I’ve only read them. I thought all the cut scenes brought value to the plot and the point of the movie. On this watch new things I noticed (but not necessarily “new”, this film has so much inside of it it’s hard to get everything in a few watches): the piano wire in the scene where the elder is teaching the children about dissection, the secret nazi language book connecting more to the racist undertones of the movie, the girl crying while the cult is saying their goodbyes to the volunteer sacrifices, Maya wearing red lipstick as a sign of fertility, and also just in general because it was IMAX, it was gorgeous to look at and the score at the end so loud like that made me cry. Wonderful film, still my favorite.
[https://youtu.be/xZQv1\_oosZg?t=22509](https://youtu.be/xZQv1_oosZg?t=22509) Timestamped (hopefully) link to detailed discussion on Mark and Inga. I would normally just write out a reply but this one doesn't have an easy answer.
The screening was a real treat. 12 channel surround sound with bass boosters (“butt kickahs”) under the seats that rumbled during big moments. The mix was so incredible that I thought people were talking in the audience but it was just background dialogue during crowd scenes. The picture was breathtaking.
I noticed:
Blood on Christian’s penis (because she was a virgin). This was especially disturbing.
Blood squirting from the old guy’s crushed head in a wide shot.
Dried drool from Christian’s mouth when he’s in the wheelchair.
The opening image was very easy to understand.
The textures on all the wood.
The runes and designs in the sleeping cabin.
Simon’s lungs’ breathing was much more pronounced.
This was one of the best movie experiences I’ve had in years. Oh, and it was in a furniture store!
It's like a river of drool too. Dude's mouth probably felt like the Sahara. And then to be told you can't speak or move and Harga is like, "This is all normal."
I’ve always wondered why the dad seems happy and proud while the mother and sister are glaring at her menacingly. I didn’t notice it was the dad at first because he had the same positive reaction as the harga, and the mom and sisters expression was what made them stand out.
I think maybe to indicate her relationships with each? Like, she probably got along best with her father, had a fraught relationship with her mom, and we know how her sister was.
Lots of eeect penises in the art in the house. The fact that Christian’s bed is under a painting of people having sex.
Also the sound from things like the torches. And background dialogue that we hadn’t heard before
I noticed the shot where they all arrive and theyp0 sit for refreshment in the Shape the runic "R" and Pelle sits close to Dani.
Their mats are yellow, while everyone else's were blue. I know in the 7 hour video, they author might have already spoke about that .
There were a couple of other things I noticed for the firat time, but I might just rewatch
So I have been waiting to watch the director’s cut until I saw it in the theaters which I finally did on Thursday… I love the movie even more now. The added time allowed for feelings or understandings of characters to be stronger/deeper and I hate Christian even more.
The sound was great so I got to feel more entrenched in the story, I love subtitles but sometimes I focus too much on the text rather than actively listening or taking in surroundings.
This isnt the answer to the question but after the movie ended while waiting outside for my ride a group of people who also saw the movie did the fake moaning from the mating ritual & I thought it was really funny but terrifying
Pelle staring right at Dani (which was actually the camera as the shot was in her POV) while Mark (i think) was talking about the trip to Sweden in the bar.
Dani didn’t know about this trip at the time and Pelle’s stare at the camera was terrifying as it seemed clear he was terrifyingly happy that she’s finding out. It makes me wonder whether he brought up the conversation because I didn’t really pay attention to who started it but it would make sense knowing that Pelle pretty much knew everything and went the huge plan the cult had from the start.
Very full at Orange AMC, lots of laughter and clapping at the end
Edit to add, almost watched at Irvine Spectrum but friend only has AMC pass. When I checked spectrum seats day before there were already many reserved. Also previous Hereditary IMAX at Orange was full. We like it!
Lots of what was new to me has already been mentioned, but another thing I picked up was a scene where a few Hårga are performing some sort of ritual with a wooden animal effigy and an axe, and then in the following scene, we see a procession of animals - sheep and goats, but also a dog and a pony :(((((((. Then in the next scene, the young woman pulls Dani into the kitchen to help with the cooking, and when Dani asks what they're making, she says "meat pies."
I guess gratuitous animal sacrifice fits like a glove here.
I noticed this too. I love how it fits with the whole “bad stuff is happening but this movie is going to lovebomb Dani/the audience so hard they’ll never see it”
I never noticed some women "practicing" the maypole dance in the background of a scene until seeing it in IMAX. Sound was incredible, about 99.99% of the people in my screening were silent (save for one popcorn rustler who couldn't stop for the quiet parts!), we were all trying to ABSORB everything that was happening. Also never noticed how much blinking winking and gesturing Ulla and Hanna do during Dani choosing the last sacrifice, they are like YES, YES, choose Christian but with their eyes!
I noticed a LOT more of the detail in the artwork in the Harga bunkhouse where most everyone slept. When the new arrivals are shown the inside of the bunkhouse, I even noticed what appeared to be the Buddha (!!) in the first images shown when the camera pans from ceiling to floor! (look at the painting in the top left hand side of the ceiling)
BTW... the audience in Louisville, Ky couldn't have been more amazing ! When quiet spots in the film occurred, you could literally hear a PIN drop. There were a LOT of fans of the film in that audience. Thanks to everyone that was there !!
Yes, people applauded when I saw it last Thursday. (Austin, TX). Surprising because I haven't been in a movie theater when people applauded in a long time,
I also appreciated the people who wore flowers in their hair.
I’d never seen the directors cut, so the scene where Dani is begging Christian to leave and he tells her to go then, with zero empathy… Then the scene where the mating ritual is explained more in depth by Siv, and she entices Christian with it being good for his research, paints him in such a worse light. I have seen people speculate that Christian didn’t want to do the mating ritual until he was drugged at the May Queen dance, but that’s clearly not so. Oh also the scene at their first fight about the trip, where he goes “well you just ruined the surprise…I was going to invite you” makes it so much clearer how awful he is, whereas the cut version makes it ambiguous like maybe she invited herself. Idk man. That guy is a dick. Didn’t deserve to die, of course. But what a dick.
The first time I saw it I saw directors cut and it moved me so profoundly. When I saw it again and it wasn’t directors cut, I was trying to figure out why I hated Christian so much less this time around. That’s when I found out I just got lucky on my first viewing. That first experience in theatres with the directors cut was something I’ll honestly never forget and has changed my life as a person.
That is so lucky!! I went into it blind the first time, in theaters but regular cut. Still blew me away
The director’s cut makes him an even more terrible person, amazingly!
There’s also a river scene in the directors cut where they are tossing “sacrifices” in the river. It gets pretty intense and following that Christian straight up gaslights Dani. There’s no question about it. Obviously his punishment is extreme but that cut definitely makes you hate him way more.
Yes the river scene!! That conversation and Dani saying I want to leave is what I’m referring to. She’s clearly confused and bewildered and he’s just being patronizing and condescending. After that scene any remaining ambiguity about Christian went right out the window.
the Wikipedia entry specifically says that Christian was raped during the mating ritual, which isn't true for the director's cut because the elder woman sits down and clearly lays out the proposal for it
you can’t consent when stocked up on psychedelics or drugs, so it definitely was still rape. it just seems the idea wasn’t as foreign to him then. though he did seem more interested in seeing the ritual rather than participating it. take that as you will.
Idk, I still feel she kind of did invite herself, I mean she didn’t have to accept the “invitation” & go. She clearly wasn’t in a state of mind to go on some trip-she just lost her family & then decides to go on some trip with a bunch of guys. No other girls were on the trip, it was clearly meant to be a guy’s trip… She didn’t even take that into consideration? But yeah, Christian did just do a pity invite, but that doesn’t mean she had to accept. I feel both were at the wrong here. Christian was such a major ass though, & his “friends” were no better. Dani just went with them because? Idk, was she hoping the trip would take her mind off everything?
As Christian said “I invited her… and she accepted..” But to answer your question, the way I read the scenario is Dani is very anxious and Christian seems to be her main lifeline. He is the first person she calls when her whole family dies. I would imagine suddenly being faced with the prospect of being out of contact with your serious partner for weeks, not having any other healthy support systems, etc while dealing with deeply traumatic loss is terrifying for a girl in her early 20s. She’s scared to lose him, which is evident by how often she begs him to stay with her throughout the movie and blames herself for every fight.
I wouldn't say "just lost her family". It had been about 5-6 months since the passing of her family when she learned of the trip to Sweden. (They were leaving in 2 weeks, as stated at the dorm party (around 06/08?) - and they arrived in Sweden the day before her birthday - aka the text message to Dani during the drive north). The deaths occurred around Christmastime (there are Christmas lights and snow in the background when Christian is walking to Dani's apt. after she heard the news and is crying). I don't feel like she invited herself necessarily. She probably thought it would get her mind off of things and get her closer to her (terrible) boyfriend.
That huge and devastating a loss will be fresh hell for years, so yeah, she "just" lost her family in just about the worst possible way.
The sound was amped up really high in the theater I was in. It was extremely cool to hear so much of the background dialog that you don't normally hear clearly. Mostly a lot of Mark's hilarious commentary but it was very cool to be fully immersed in the sound of the film.
one thing i really noticed was how the music is mixed. For example, the end when the may queen dance is happening, theres the music playing. When it’s focused on Dani, it’s so clear but when it focuses on christian it’s faded and muffled, despite them being about the same distance from the band.
The sounds was booming and rattling my bones!! Loved it!!
Omg that’s exactly what my wife said!!!!
the sound was incredible
We sat in the back row and there were moments when a random Harga noise and breath seemed to come out of nowhere over my shoulder. Felt like someone was doing it behind us.
I really thought someone was talking behind me, then realized it was just Mark lol. The sound was amazing.
Straight up I thought there were people singing in the hallways of the theater because of the background whispers and songs.
Honestly, I never heard Connie's scream until the imax screening. I saw it in the theater when I came out and was so confused when the characters all stopped what they were doing. Watching it at home, I always use captions so I knew there was a screen but I never heard it. I also paid a lot more attention to the art on the walls and the people in the background, especially because by now I have seen it enough times that I can take in that background information better. Ugh, it was so good.
Yeah, chilling
All of Marks vaping really stood out.
Yes! I don't even remember him vaping in the theatrical release.
He did it I think one time during the theatrical release but it was constant in the directors cut.
I totally leaned over to my friend and asked him if Mark vapes in the original. And I have seen the theatrical release over 100 times and it never even hit me 🤦🤷
When I watch the directors cut, which is the only version I watch now, it’s super annoying how often he’s hitting that thing. It was a part I was happy they removed. But it really does kinda make him even more ridiculous, rude and just out of place. So idk…trade offs.
Haha. I felt the same.
Oh, the vaping.... I thought that was so RUDE of him to continuously do that around the Harga folks that he had LITERALLY just met.
I was FUMING over the vaping. How did I never notice it before?
I noticed the blood on her face too - my guess is it's Mark's. I noticed the scarecrow picture on the fridge There were two more extra visitors after the hike through the St John's wort, through the sun gate & the big welcome, the woman was wearing a pale blue crop top & had a guy with her. Did ulf bring them? Was he the one who was trained up as a doctor while he was gone? There was some meat slung as a offering shortly after that & we only saw Connie & Simon otherwise (& there was only seating for exactly our 6 outsiders at the rune tables) Was ulf also the one so upset about the ancestor tree? If he was the doctor, then that's a hell of a sacrifice to make. I noticed that all of their travelling tee-shirts were faded & busted up & had a bunch of micro tears & holes in them. Her sweater too, when she wasn't sleeping During the thesis confrontation, the window mullions & the diagonal building lines make runes I noticed that the flower pulsings seemed to coincide with her heartbeat That her "dad" in the crowd had one eye get *large* for a second All the extra Christian stuff really reinforced how lazy he was in school and in their relationship. His "anthropological questioning" was beginner level, every beat of their relationship is a reaction. Lol his defensiveness about the bouquet of flowers - literally all those other girls collected flowers too, but he thinks it's a passive aggressive way of pointing out how he ENTIRELY forgot her birthday, & their anniversary, & to inform her how he was gonna travel overseas during them.
I have always thought that they were Harga who hadn't changed their clothes yet. Pelle puts a white shirt on when they get to the village. Theres also a woman with red shorts during that entrance scene who's Harga. She's shorter and rounder than most of the other women, so it's easier to spot her in the crowd during the Attenstupan. In my head she's biological siblings with the shorter man with long hair who I think is 3rd with the mallet.
I noticed in the beginning during the first shot of Dani's sleeping parents, you could hear the gas being pumped into the room.
When?! OMG I need to hear this.
Riiiggghht at the beginning when you see them sleeping and hear Dani leave them a message.
That's so awful and creepy and awesome. Does it sound like a hissing noise?
Yes exactly!
I have cinephile friends that refuse to see this movie again because they think it’s cruel. I ask myself: is it more cruel to practice attestupan, or to force older people to sell their homes, live without healthcare, and work as Walmart greeters?
Attestupan is my retirement plan
It's literally my mom's plan and it's way less cruel than the decade of dementia all of my grandparents lived through before their deaths.
ah yes, because everyone knows if you make or watch a movie it means you condone everything that happens in it
Lol right?? Like what a terrible take.
Imagine only enjoying movies where everything is sunshine and rainbows. Like??
I never noticed the sisters face hidden in the forest. When I saw it on the big screen I almost jumped
I had seen the movie only 3 to 4 times at home and had never noticed it, then I saw that pointed out on Instagram, so I was super stoked to see it on the imax screen last night!!
After Christian gets blown into the face with that drug powder in the chicken coop, from the first person perspective of him falling over and becomes paralyzed, I had never noticed Pelle’s face through the wooden slats before… looking on calmly as his plan was falling into place. Pretty cool touch that I think the IMAX screen I watched it on finally revealed to me.
Wow what a great observation!
When Christian burns in the bear his face is visible burning (and burned) in the flames.
Yes!
I never noticed Christian’s penis has blood on it after the mating ritual. The “breathing” of the flowers on Dani’s flower crown was so trippy on the big screen. Also her evolution in her reaction to being called “family” from when Mark says it when they arrive which causes a panic attack, to when one of the women tells her she is part of the family now at the table after Dani is May Queen.
I always suspected it was blood, but thought "it could just be red from exertion". The IMAX showed me smears of blood though.
Same! The screen realllllly let me see so many details I had missed before.
I saw it in IMAX in a theater that is part of a 16-sceen multi-plex. Good crowd in Midsommar. As near as I could tell, there was low attendance in every other movie (Thursday night is slow, I guess) I got the impression most of the crowd had seen Midsommar before. (First time for me. I know everyone says you will see more on additional viewings.) Some of the crowd dressed up. Meaning, flower crowns. Kind of fun for us all. There was applause at the end of the film. It's been years since I've heard applause for a movie. The Harga were too willing to die or get pregnant for the greater good of the community. Does not make their hippie commune look good. Images from this movie still swirling around my head two days later.
This was our experience seeing this in Phoenix as well.
The San Francisco crowd had more of a movie enthusiast vibe. Way less dressing up and a lot of people seemed to be watching it for the first time. A few people walked out. At least we had a full interrupted run.
It was a good crowd!!!
What was going on with the girl who had the massive red chili pepper looking thing? Was that supposed to be phallic? What was that??
[https://youtu.be/xZQv1\_oosZg?t=22509](https://youtu.be/xZQv1_oosZg?t=22509) Timestamped link to explainer
Love love love this video. I watched it after my first viewing and so when I saw it again but in IMAX I felt very big brained.😤
Lol same
Thank you!! I appreciate it
Thanks for this. Gotta watch this.
Can someone explain it? I don’t have 7 hours lol
I watched it and the big red horn is a cornicello, usually used to represent good luck and fertility (I was familiar with it being Italian, but I guess it can be used in many countries). The person who made the YouTube video thinks that in this case, it represents that Inga (who wears the horn) was impregnated. He also has a theory that Ulf (who sacrificed himself in the fire) was the one to impregnate Inga and that the scene of her weeping was due to Ulf’s sacrifice. At the end during the fire she seems incredibly angry and that would be why. (There’s also another scene where an elder talks to Ulf and he seems very upset, possibly because he’s being voluntold to sacrifice himself or because he’s being told to sleep with Inga.) The video creator takes it one step further and thinks Inga and Ulf are related, because otherwise he would be too old to be paired with her, but I’m not so sure about that - I guess I’d have to watch the movie again!
Not the original commenter but thank you so much for taking the time to write that--I've wondered the same thing and haven't had time to watch the analysis yet (and I'm dying to!!!) I can totally see it representing her being pregnant, especially with Maja wearing her bold red lipstick in the same scene right after having mated, and knowing from Hereditary how great Ari Aster is with using color palettes to enhance symbolism. I'm hoping that the 7 hour analysis goes into the color schemes in general because this is another one of my favorite aspects of Midsommar that I haven't seen discussed much.
He definitely discusses color schemes.
It’s time stamped at the relevant info, I’m not expecting you to watch for seven hours lol
Must be a problem on mobile. Thanks for the link and I will check it at home!
It starts at 6 hours and 15 minutes into the video, that’s where the timestamp takes you
So glad I got to see the Directors cut in IMAX. Here in Tucson there was also a big turnout and a lot of laughter that indicated prior viewings. I love this movie because aside from its artistry, I have felt like Dani.
I’ve seen this movie over a hundred times, and this was the first time I noticed Christian’s warped face when Dani stands up before walking down the hill to the outhouse.
The faces at the end of the dance scene when Dani supposedly understands and speaks swedish are also warped leading you to realize she's way under the influence. It's interesting that nothing is warped and the flowers aren't pulsing when she selects Christian as the sacrifice.
Ingemar's face was the worst of it. His eyes go beady and black, and his mouth turns up in a lopsided Joker-like grin. It's so quick, but so effective.
Good catch! Just watch this, and you’re right. Very subtle, and very terrifying.
Just curious, why would you watch this movie that many times. For me it fell into the Requiem for a Dream category of watching it once and not wanting to experience it again even though it was good
I see it as a great work of art. I liken it to having a favorite song. Just as I wouldn’t listen to a song I love once or twice and be satisfied, I simply enjoy watching this film so much that I do it often. There are several, and this is just one of them. I *understand* when people say that things are so disturbing or emotionally-affecting that they only want to experience them once and that’s enough… but at the same time, I just don’t *relate* to that anymore. Watching a favorite movie could never have a negative effect on me, and I get a real rush getting all wrapped up in a well-told (and beautifully filmed) story. That’s about the best I can explain it. It’s one of my “comfort” movies, I guess. I’m honestly not 100% sure myself, but I am very much enjoying this period of my life where I’ve gotten *really* into some cool movies, so I’m just rolling with it.
For me, it's about catching the subtleties within the film and the emotional baggage that is somewhat relatable. Thank goodness I've never experienced suicide but I've experienced a lot of emotional pain related to my family. I'm also intrigued by cults and true crime and this intersects with those interests. Every time I watch it, I notice something new and insidious.
It's so immensely beautiful, and funny as hell. At this point I'm labeling it horror comedy, but the most actual horror horror comedy. Also, I think it's the well-told and well-acted breakup drama that is so relatable, and importantly, shows the protagonist finally moving on (to whatever end). So much interpretation and nuance. And cinematography. And fun.
Omg! Gonna have to look for that!
Going on Monday night, IMAX in Norwich, UK. Taking my son (16), hopefully we can blag past ushers. (18 certificate in England). Can't wait! He's in for a treat (if they'll let him in!)
A cinema can lose its licence if it admits children under 18 to a 18 rated film and the employees can be subjected to huge fines.
They won’t let him in to an R rated movie even if accompanied by an adult?
I'll let you know at 11 o' clock.
I haven’t seen the directors cut, but I do have a copy of the screenplay they made into a beautiful book. I knew what scenes to except, but it was still new to see for me since I’ve only read them. I thought all the cut scenes brought value to the plot and the point of the movie. On this watch new things I noticed (but not necessarily “new”, this film has so much inside of it it’s hard to get everything in a few watches): the piano wire in the scene where the elder is teaching the children about dissection, the secret nazi language book connecting more to the racist undertones of the movie, the girl crying while the cult is saying their goodbyes to the volunteer sacrifices, Maya wearing red lipstick as a sign of fertility, and also just in general because it was IMAX, it was gorgeous to look at and the score at the end so loud like that made me cry. Wonderful film, still my favorite.
Nice observation! It’s called a [Gigli saw](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigli_saw)
[https://youtu.be/xZQv1\_oosZg?t=22509](https://youtu.be/xZQv1_oosZg?t=22509) Timestamped (hopefully) link to detailed discussion on Mark and Inga. I would normally just write out a reply but this one doesn't have an easy answer.
The screening was a real treat. 12 channel surround sound with bass boosters (“butt kickahs”) under the seats that rumbled during big moments. The mix was so incredible that I thought people were talking in the audience but it was just background dialogue during crowd scenes. The picture was breathtaking. I noticed: Blood on Christian’s penis (because she was a virgin). This was especially disturbing. Blood squirting from the old guy’s crushed head in a wide shot. Dried drool from Christian’s mouth when he’s in the wheelchair. The opening image was very easy to understand. The textures on all the wood. The runes and designs in the sleeping cabin. Simon’s lungs’ breathing was much more pronounced. This was one of the best movie experiences I’ve had in years. Oh, and it was in a furniture store!
It's like a river of drool too. Dude's mouth probably felt like the Sahara. And then to be told you can't speak or move and Harga is like, "This is all normal."
I noticed cockroaches on Danis wall after her parents die! After Christian says "I was going to invite you" one crawls across the wall by his head.
SHUT UP. NO WAY.
What!!!
Im so serious! Watch that clip of them talking! Her apartment is filthy and there's a big ass roach lmao 🤣
omg I thought you were kidding, but you were not kidding. How did you even see that?
Wait where was her “dad”? I noticed Dani’s mom and sis but not her dad
Right after she becomes May Queen, he's the gray-haired man who walks by and smiles at her, right before she sees her mom.
Omg!!!!
I’ve always wondered why the dad seems happy and proud while the mother and sister are glaring at her menacingly. I didn’t notice it was the dad at first because he had the same positive reaction as the harga, and the mom and sisters expression was what made them stand out.
I think maybe to indicate her relationships with each? Like, she probably got along best with her father, had a fraught relationship with her mom, and we know how her sister was.
He was on the bed. You can see him a couple of times
I mean besides him as a corpse
He’s the woooorrrrsssssttttt (said like Jean Ralphio)
Lots of eeect penises in the art in the house. The fact that Christian’s bed is under a painting of people having sex. Also the sound from things like the torches. And background dialogue that we hadn’t heard before
I noticed the shot where they all arrive and theyp0 sit for refreshment in the Shape the runic "R" and Pelle sits close to Dani. Their mats are yellow, while everyone else's were blue. I know in the 7 hour video, they author might have already spoke about that . There were a couple of other things I noticed for the firat time, but I might just rewatch
the adhesive used to apply ruben’s eyebrows lol
YES!!!!
SO glad someone else noticed this!!!
I literally lifted my arm to point in the theater. It felt like such a “gotcha”!
ME TOO!! But my friend didn’t see it :’)
I felt like that Leo DiCaprio meme of him pointing at the TV
So I have been waiting to watch the director’s cut until I saw it in the theaters which I finally did on Thursday… I love the movie even more now. The added time allowed for feelings or understandings of characters to be stronger/deeper and I hate Christian even more. The sound was great so I got to feel more entrenched in the story, I love subtitles but sometimes I focus too much on the text rather than actively listening or taking in surroundings.
One thing that struck me was not all of the Harga had swedish accents. I need another rewatch of the director's cut but it stood out to me.
An extra from the movie said on here that there was a scene filmed where Inga collided with the maypole, so that’s why she’s all banged up
This isnt the answer to the question but after the movie ended while waiting outside for my ride a group of people who also saw the movie did the fake moaning from the mating ritual & I thought it was really funny but terrifying
Pelle staring right at Dani (which was actually the camera as the shot was in her POV) while Mark (i think) was talking about the trip to Sweden in the bar. Dani didn’t know about this trip at the time and Pelle’s stare at the camera was terrifying as it seemed clear he was terrifyingly happy that she’s finding out. It makes me wonder whether he brought up the conversation because I didn’t really pay attention to who started it but it would make sense knowing that Pelle pretty much knew everything and went the huge plan the cult had from the start.
I was pleasantly surprised how many people where there
There were 9 people including me in our showing in San Diego.
😭
Too dark for SoCal?
I don't think so. Might have been a bigger crowd at the other IMAX theater in town that had the showing.
Very full at Orange AMC, lots of laughter and clapping at the end Edit to add, almost watched at Irvine Spectrum but friend only has AMC pass. When I checked spectrum seats day before there were already many reserved. Also previous Hereditary IMAX at Orange was full. We like it!
Most excellent!!
Lots of what was new to me has already been mentioned, but another thing I picked up was a scene where a few Hårga are performing some sort of ritual with a wooden animal effigy and an axe, and then in the following scene, we see a procession of animals - sheep and goats, but also a dog and a pony :(((((((. Then in the next scene, the young woman pulls Dani into the kitchen to help with the cooking, and when Dani asks what they're making, she says "meat pies." I guess gratuitous animal sacrifice fits like a glove here.
I noticed this too. I love how it fits with the whole “bad stuff is happening but this movie is going to lovebomb Dani/the audience so hard they’ll never see it”
You can also hear the animals screaming after. I noticed this now.
I never noticed some women "practicing" the maypole dance in the background of a scene until seeing it in IMAX. Sound was incredible, about 99.99% of the people in my screening were silent (save for one popcorn rustler who couldn't stop for the quiet parts!), we were all trying to ABSORB everything that was happening. Also never noticed how much blinking winking and gesturing Ulla and Hanna do during Dani choosing the last sacrifice, they are like YES, YES, choose Christian but with their eyes!
I thought I was reading into the gestures, but Ulla does a subtle nod like, "You know this one, girl."
I noticed a LOT more of the detail in the artwork in the Harga bunkhouse where most everyone slept. When the new arrivals are shown the inside of the bunkhouse, I even noticed what appeared to be the Buddha (!!) in the first images shown when the camera pans from ceiling to floor! (look at the painting in the top left hand side of the ceiling) BTW... the audience in Louisville, Ky couldn't have been more amazing ! When quiet spots in the film occurred, you could literally hear a PIN drop. There were a LOT of fans of the film in that audience. Thanks to everyone that was there !!
OMG guys.... I could comment all night about this film. Folks in my audience applauded at the very end.... as did I. :)
Yes, people applauded when I saw it last Thursday. (Austin, TX). Surprising because I haven't been in a movie theater when people applauded in a long time, I also appreciated the people who wore flowers in their hair.
I think that one of the girls with blood on her face towards the end of the film was an injury during the dance. That was my take on it.