Reader support helps us keep our explainers free for all. If she hadnt won the dance-off it doesnt mean she wouldnt have joined the group the communal grieving session seemed to be quite a turning point for Dani though she wouldnt have had the catharsis of being able to put Christian in a bear and burn him. We are hoping urgh, put them in a bear and burn them becomes a comforting phrase offered to those who are being mistreated by their other half. There's the decorating and raising of the maypole, a structure that has been theorized to represent everything from sacred trees, to the world axis, to phallic symbols. Ari Asters latest horrorfest Midsommar is out now. More and more people are flocking to the small screen to find daily entertainment. Midsommar opens up to the falling relationship of Dani and Christian. Related: Midsommar's Secret The Exorcist Easter Egg Explained. That print is Stackars lilla Basse! (Poor little bear!), which is an illustration by the Swedish painter and illustrator John Bauer, who died in 1918. He seems confused by this, but also in typical Christian fashion lacks the cojones to show either enthusiasm or disgust. Midsommar is a visually gory and disturbing movie, even more so in the director's cut. Those who wish to carry on the May Day celebration can participate in parades and march while displaying traditional slogans on banners. Create robust and customizable shot lists. As Dani and Christian's friends begin disappearing one by one, it becomes clear that there's something very dark going on behind the scenes of the Midsommar festivities. Dani's sister poisoned herself and her. He is asked to mate with a girl named Maja because he is astrologically perfect for her. Folks in Sweden take this break so seriously, in fact, that they often close up shop and desert their towns and cities on Midsummer Eve. Later, Christian has a meeting withHrga elder Siv (Gunnel Fred), where she tells him that he has been granted permission to mate with Maja. Theres a long shot in which Dani, Christian, Josh, and Mark are sitting side by side at the table, each looking angry. Traditionally, a dance around the maypole could have ended in the year's new May Queen. The Midsommar Celebration Is Christian-Based, Not Pagan The first section involves Dani becoming traumatized over the death of her sister. These scenes give the movie a more surreal atmosphere. Dont think so. Her worst affekts affections and emotions, in other words are, as it turns out, all tied to Christian and the ways shes been forced to sublimate her intense grief in order to keep him from leaving her. But who are the other two? If that foundation isnt there, it leads to people feeling alone and isolated even when theyre surrounded by other people. (*Fun fact: In Sweden, wasps are deadlier than most of the predators that might first come to mind.). Thats just scratching the surface. She could just as easily been one of the nine. The straw in the sacred temple is set on fire and begins to the burn the whole building down. That is a radically fast turnaround time of only 396 days from budget approval to theatrical release. Later, when Dani is lying on her bed, we see that theres a large print hung above it. Because although youd probably choose to save even the nobbiest of ex-boyfriends over a murderous cult, Dani has perhaps decided that shes without family of her own and the nurturing elements of Hrga are where she now belongs. Mike Bedard is a graduate of UCLA. It's the symbol for the Norse God Tyr, who put his hand in Fenrir's mouth knowing that Fenrir would bite it off when Tyr betrayed him. They drink the tea again. The movie follows a group of college students who travel to a pagan festival in Sweden and get caught up in a terrifying ordeal. So from runes to ritual sacrifice, and maypoles to May Queens, here's a look at at what's real and what's stretching the truth quite a bit. However, things take a dark turn during the first ceremony, when two elders of the commune commit ritualistic suicide. Singer/songwriter Ariana Grande loves Midsommar. We soon learn that Dani's sister was successful in committing suicide via car exhaust, and the fumes also killed Dani's parents in the same house. newsletter. I think it is very important to note how their relationship was so toxic and Christian was a bad boyfriend to the point where her vision got clouded and manipulated. When your partner is upset, you should be upset, too. She travels to a faraway country and endures hardships and trials, but eventually, she finds a family. The grim spectre of death overlooks the image. There's the upward arrow / T-shaped rune known as Twaz or Teiwaz that represents the Norse god Tyr, a brave and powerful male deity who sacrifices his arm to the giant wolf Fenrir. Shes been an entertainment journalist for more than 15 years previously working at DVD & Blu-ray. Meanwhile, the only thing left of Mark is his skinned face and scalp, which has been placed on a straw dummy and given a jester's hat. On either side of her couch are two paintings: one of a series of moons (indicating the passage and cycle of time, presumably) and one rather wild-looking one that appears to be a woman running across corpses. The young women ofHrga gather around her and cry with her, matching her screams. The group experiences the strange rituals of the people, which includes two elderly citizens jumping off a cliff to their deaths (clip not provided for obvious reasons). After the group travels to Sweden, Dani picks flowers for Christian, who couldnt be more aloof. The answer to that is complex, but a good place to start is the fact that Dani isn't exactly in her right mind at the end of the movie. Mark is convinced that one of the Harga men, whos glowering at him across the way, is going to kill him for pissing on the ancestral tree. Millions turn to Vox to educate themselves, their family, and their friends about whats happening in the world around them, and to learn about things that spark their curiosity. Once out in the flowering fields on a Friday in late June, families and large gatherings of friends will start off their festivities by picking flowers, making wreaths, and raising the maypole, the site (and sight) of a number of "ring-around" dances. Sign up for the Midsommar, the latest from Hereditary director Ari Aster is a complicated beast. Theres an indication that Pelle is romantically interested in Dani (totally kisses her on the mouth) so you could see why he might want her to join the commune. This is expressed visually in the film when Dani goes to talk to Christians friends. The community hides all these disappearances by lying. Its a Chekhovs bear, if you will. Especially Dani, whose sister committed suicide. Chrisitans friends Mark, Josh, and Pele, advise him to quit the toxic relationship. If you look at the trees behind her, you can see the image of her sisters face with the exhaust tube in her mouth from when she killed herself. In fact, part of what makes Ari Aster's film so appealing for horror fans is the jaw-dropping nature of the characters' deaths. Midsommar is one of the best horror films of all time and for good reason. From very early on, before they take the trip, he empathises with her grief and its only Pelle that really makes her feel welcome. Midsommar, the new film from Ari Aster, is currently freaking out cinemagoers around the world - not least because of its extremely bold ending. More: Read Screen Rant's Review of Midsommar, Hannah has been with Screen Rant since 2013, covering news, features, movie premieres, Comic-Con and more! The May Queen dance off, for example, is a strange mix of drug fuelled joy and terror, and at various points the other women are supportive of Dani. As May Queen, its up to Dani to decide whether Christian or one of the cult followers will become the final participant. Heres Midsommar explained for all you filmmakers wanting to make your own folk horror masterpiece. Christian finishes the act, then runs out of the mating house naked and discovers, in a chicken coop, what happened to Simon. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. Go To. The locals try to comfort them and explain how it is done willingly for the benefit of the entire village so that nobody becomes a burden on their society, but the students are rightfully outraged. If youve seen the film, then you know that description doesnt really do the movie justice, and theres so much that makes this film such a complex, intriguing work of art. A big part of the plot of Midsommar reveals around this "election" of a new May Queen to make some pretty important decisions for the group and, eventually, possibly lead the matriarchal society. Midsommar is not the kind of film where theres a puzzle or a mystery to be solved. This is followed by a day of rest, either by sleeping or visiting a spa; May 1st has been a holiday in Sweden for 80 years. Christian continues to just try to get her to act normal so that they can have a fun time in Sweden. At the same time, Christian is taken away and drugged as well with the same tea. Both are having struggles as Dani is the emotional one, while Christian is sick of the behavior. A woman (Dani) is connected to three other people (her sister, father, and mother). You can see elements of this idea in Midsommar: There's the focus on ritualized feasting and drinking, a very specific dancing sequence, and a metaphorical defeat of predators (be they the natural sort like bears or the spiritual sort likes demons), as well as the big bonfire which ends the whole movie with style. Why? The story centers on a group of Americans who travel to the Swedish hinterland at the invitation of their university friend in order to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime spring festival. The dance sees Dani winning the part, and everyone applauds her and showers respect. Copyright 2022 OtakuKart. (Which seems, if youve seen Hereditary, to be Asters signature move.) Under the drunken state, Christian agrees and meets a naked Maja in a room along with a number of naked women. Its rich, gorgeous, lucid nightmare of a movie (check out our review) packed with shocks and images you cant unsee. The term was invented in. When she catches Christian cheating on her, she runs out of the hut screaming and crying, but something different happens. We think thats Ruben wearing Marks face who kills Josh, because of some sound cues during that scene (and because he protects the book). Fury of the Gods Brings Back the "Shazamily": Inside DC's New Superhero Adventure, Scream 6's Brutal NYC Trip: "You Can't Trust Anyone" This Time, Cocaine Bear Is Not Just About a Killer "Coked-Up" Bear, It's Also an "Underdog Story", How Marvel's Wastelanders Podcast Created an Exciting Story with No Visual Safety Net, Midsommar Explained Questions and Theories. The film is a co-production between the United States and Sweden telling a Swedish slasher film. Four from the community, with two who volunteered and two who turned 72 years old. You may agree or may not agree with their rituals but thats what Midsommar is in for. There's the complicated history of Viking-era anthropological finds and the Christian propaganda that complicated stories of ritual sacrifices to Odin and other gods. And Christian is going up in flames before her eyes. The communitys woman observes this and cries with her seeming like they can feel the pain. Christian is hesitant about bringing Dani along on a trip to Sweden with him and his friends, but he ultimately invites her. In the end, there is a sense of. But within the films logic Mark stays because hes getting some action. If youre looking for a review of the film, with a few basic plot details but no major spoilers, then read this instead. Mark in particular despises Dani and keeps telling Christian to break up with her, and she is made to feel like an outsider and an annoyance whenever the group are all together. As with Aster . Bonfires and visits to the healing waters of local spas were and continue to be a part of the celebration. The Swedish celebration of Walpurgis Eve, celebrated since at least the Middle Ages, is a chance for people of all ages and professions to welcome in the Spring season. While the film is filled with ritualistic sacrifices and bears in cages, it sticks with you because of these central, universal themes anyone can learn from. And thats where the second section of the film ends: The Harga havent changed, but the Americans impression of them has shifted uncomfortably. Midsommar probably won't encourage folks to book tickets for a Swedish vacation anytime soon. Midsommar stars Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren, Ellora Torchia, Archie Madekwe, and Will Poulter. For example, theres a moment everyone believes Simon left the village without telling his girlfriend Connie behind. Dani is sent with the women to ready themselves for the dance, while Christian goes as instructed to the house of Siv, the Harga matriarch, and informed that he has been approved to mate with Maja. Related:Will Poulter, William Jackson Harper and Vilhelm Blomgren Interview: Midsommar. Peles sister won last year, and he hopes Dani wins this year. Midsommar is a 2019 folk horror film written and directed by Ari Aster.The film stars Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor as a dysfunctional couple who travel to Sweden with a group of friends for a midsummer festival, only to find themselves in the clutches of a sinister cult practicing Scandinavian paganism.Supporting actors include William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren, Ellora Torchia, Archie . TheHrgans watching outside the temple scream and thrash along with them. Four from Hrga, four outsiders, and one final choice to be made by the May Queen. Dani, at the beginning of the film, loses her family tragically she is orphaned. The one on the top is Algiz, which literally means shield. That last half-hour is . Like director Ari Aster's first film, Hereditary, . Aster's take on the people of Hrga is that their culture is deeply rooted in reciprocity, which is an aspect that's missing in the core romantic relationship at the heart of the story; this is where the focus of Midsommar really lies. Praise is pouring in for "Midsommar," the new horror film about a Swedish summertime festival gone very, very wrong. further reading: Midsommar Ending Explained. Midsommar, the new movie from writer and director Ari Aster, is the slowest of burns.It's nearly two and a half hours long, and spends most of that time lulling viewers into a resting state of . In the cinema cut, Connie (Ellora Torchia) and Simon (Archie Madekwe) freak out and want to flee after they see two of the Harga community leap of a cliff to their bloody deaths. One of the Hrga women tells Dani she's family now, that they're like sisters. The film has a happy ending, more . The paintings above the beds that Christian and Dani sleep in depict what will happen to them, like a kind of prophecy.). Dani chooses Christian, and he is sewn into a bear skin and brought to the sacred temple, where he is made the centerpiece of the sacrifice - representing all that is unholy, which theHrgans wish to cast out. A24. (Remember her conversation with an unseen friend on the phone, where she worried that someday her need for Christians emotional support would be a burden? So heres a quick overview of Midsommar leading up to the ending, what happens at the end, and what it (probably) means, though there are plenty of alternate interpretations available. Then theres the first section, which begins two weeks before the group Christian, Mark, Dani, Josh, and Pelle head to Sweden, and ends when they walk through the big wooden sunburst and into the idyllic village of the Harga. Christian attempts to escape after the mating ritual, and runs into a chicken coop where he finds Simon's body suspended into the air and turned into a "blood eagle" - a method of ritual killingwhere the ribs have been removed from his back and his lungs pulled out to create the appearance of wings. A lot of the traditional May Day celebrations have been shifted to the night before during "Last of April" festivities, and some of them have moved to Midsummer itself. Sure, there was a bit of the old bureaucracy to the celebration as well since they would hold a village meeting and elect a new alderman, but the real fun was out in the field. And, of course, the bear. When her family died, Christian and his friends failed . Then Mark was guided by a beautiful girl. And if not-paraylsed hell be a liability, especially given hes probably fathered a child within the cult. Master the art of visual storytelling with our FREE video series on directing and filmmaking techniques. Lets dive into our next explainer on Us. Last one May Queen decides of if its outsider or from the community. Furthermore, another thing to note is that this only happens every 90 years. It's destined to be discussed for years to come. There has never been a boyfriend whos more of a wet lump of nothingness than Christian. But he tests to limits which lead him to his end. Looking for an escape, Dani follows her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) on a trip with his friends to a folk festival in Sweden, run by a commune that Christian's friend Pelle (Vilhelm Blomgren) grew up in. If youve seen the film, then you know that description doesnt really do the movie justice, and theres so much that makes this film such a complex, intriguing work of art. He mates with her, and as she moans, so does the other woman with her. Yes, she witnessed him sleeping with another girl, but by that point that's surely the least of the horrors she's witnessed that week, and to be fair, that wasn't entirely his fault. Fast forward a bit and Dani and Christian are still together. At the start of the movie, Dani is extremely isolated. Pelle lays out the life cycle ofHrgans for his friends shortly after they arrive in the commune. Related:Ari Aster and Jack Reynor Interview: Midsommar. Instead of replying with reassurance, Christian sourly eats a pie containing what looks to be a pubic hair and drinks from a glass containing a liquid thats pointedly pinker than everyone elses. Midsommar: Burning Christian in the Bear Suit Cleanses the Harga of Sin As revealed near the end of Midsommar, the titular festival's ultimate event is the ritual sacrifice of nine human lives, four Hargans, four outsiders, and one chosen by the May Queen, who of course ends up being Dani (Florence Pugh). During the feast following, Dani is led away to bless the crops, while Christian is led away to, uh, mate with Maja, surrounded by a dozen naked women in a semicircle who sing and match Majas breathing. The tradition itself has become the country's most popular festival, but only in the last hundred years or so despite being in existence for more than a millennium. Dani bitterly states how she thinks Christian would do the same. He cant be allowed to leave. What begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult. She is also slowly beginning to realise how much of a rubbish boyfriend Christian is and coming around to Pelles view of the community as a new family. However, having brought the May Queen toHrga, Pelle isspared from being sacrificed and instead given the highest honors. The plot is simple, outsiders visit a new place and via pagan . Ari Aster. Its something a lot of people can relate to even if theyve never stuffed their ex into a bear carcass. One of the most memorable moments that went viral was the scene where after Dani becomes the May Queen. The Most Interesting Articles, Mysteries and Discoveries. Its not just creepy Easter eggs going on in the background either. Childhood (spring) lasts from ages 0 to 18, and from ages 18 to 36 (summer) young people leaveon a pilgrimage, spending those years living in other places around the world. Throughout this section, Dani is trying to put on a brave face; she only lets out her guttural sobs in private bathrooms, with the doors closed. He is made to inhale steam that gives him "vitality," and then has sex with Maja while surrounded by a group of Hrga's older women, who sing and urge him on. Horror movies have short and sweet runtimes but even the Midsommar Directors Cut with nearly a three-hour runtime keeps you locked in dreadful suspense. Also Read:Roh Ending Explained: Netflix Horror Story Plot Summary. During the May Queen celebrations, Christian is given a drink with hallucinogenic properties, and then flower petals are laid out to create a path for him to the barn where Maja is waiting. Christian and all his friends go up in flames, and she acts out their pain just like the villagers. Two otherHrgans are chosenfor the sacrifice because they succeeded in bringing new bloods to the community: Pelle's brother, Ingemar, and another man called Ulf (Henrik Norln). Theres the overture: everything that happens before the title cards appear, in the snowy undefined landscape, when Danis family dies and she is plunged into grief. With the yellow pyramid building aflame, the whole community gathers outside, howling as they did at the ttestupa. (If youre confused, recall the cloth the camera panned across earlier, hanging on a clothesline, that Pelle calls kind of a love story.). Instead weve come up with a bunch of things that made us scratch our heads and a range of points that, frankly, we just really want to talk about. That the bear image comes from a fairy tale also reminds us that Midsommar is more of a fairy tale than anything else, though as Aster pointed out to me in an interview its also clearly a folk horror film, in which outsiders visit a foreign place and start disappearing in pagan rituals. Subscribe for more filmmaking videos like this. The final step is for Dani to be accepted by theHrgan elders, but she hears the singing from the mating ritual and walks to the barn. . And needless to say, this article will be packed with spoilers from the get-go so if youve not seen the movie move along! The second section begins when the Americans arrive in the village and lasts until shortly after the events at the ttestupa, the high cliff where the elders throw themselves to their deaths. And Dani? The actual celebrating was done through singing, dancing, and feasting (including a hearty dish of nettle soup), all around the bonfires (and long into the night). With all those folks heading out of town and into the countryside, the streets and thoroughfares get mighty busy; but at the end of the road (and a long line of cars), friends and family wait for the new arrivals with blooming, shimmering branches from silver birches. Chris Snyder and Meredith Geaghan-Breiner. The actual celebrating was done through singing, dancing, and feasting (including a. Also the sacrifice of the oldies seemed to be something that happens outside the celebrations if the celebrations happen only every 90 years then would mean that others in the commune wouldnt be able to sacrifice themselves in this way, and we know thats not the case because another of the towns elders says she will sacrifice herself when her time comes. Essentially an ancient alphabet used throughout Northern Europe before the adoption of the more modern Latin alphabet, runes are characters that have an associated sound as well as a meaning attributed to them. Neon Noir Collateral Movie Breakdown & Appreciation, Best Shows on Amazon Prime Video (December 2020). Elon Musk thinks were close to solving AI. The character's name is pretty on the nose when it comes to a religious analysis, but the runic associate is just as literal. Is paralyzed by the cult and chosen as the final sacrifice in their ritual by Dani, stuffed into the corpse of a bear and placed in a temple surrounded by the corpses of the other sacrifices, two of which are his closest friends, and burned alive, all while all . Midsommar as a fairytale. The group arrives at the midsommar festival where everything is a bit off. All of the outsiders except for Dani and Christian have been quietly killed off during the week, because each of them failed in some way:Mark (Will Poulter) urinated on a sacred burial ground, Simon (Archie Madekwe) and Connie (Ellora Torchia) tried to leave, and Josh (William Jackson Harper) tried to take photos of one of Hrga's sacred texts after being forbidden from doing so. Maja is a redheaded Hrga girl who has a crush on Christian Hughes, the boyfriend of protagonist Dani Ardor. In the final ceremony of the Midsommar festival, nine human sacrifices are made in the yellow pyramid-shaped temple that Dani was told not to enter. At the beginning of the film, Dani is alone in her grief. Dani observes this from a keyhole and breakdown, and far away has a panic attack. By looking at the film through these sections, we gain a better understanding of the films central themes. Now its all about Trump. Every relationship is different, but each one depends on a foundation of shared empathy. The left-hand side of the quilt shows the overture. Oops. But if you pay attention, you may notice background details that really let you into Danis state of mind and the grief shes still experiencing. This is a purging ritual; they are allowing everything bad and dark inside themselves to be let out. It successfully creates a haunting atmosphere that remains pertinent throughout the entire film. Dani likely stays because she doesnt want to lose someone else at this time, but theres a lack of shared empathy between the two. We soon learn that Danis sister was successful in committing suicide via car exhaust, and the fumes also killed Danis parents in the same house. One of Josh's legs has been cut off and, as Christian saw earlier, buried in the garden like a flower. But in truth, the events in most of the films 140-minute runtime are fairly easy to follow; its in the ending where things get a little wild, grand, and possibly baffling. But the traditions still carry on in their own way. Theyve all been killed and are placed within a ceremonial hut. There are some exceptions to the rules against incest; cousins inHrga are sometimes permitted to mate, and each generation has an "unclouded" oracle who is the deliberate product of inbreeding. Midsommar walks a very fine tight rope because it puts the audience in Dani's shoes as she becomes a pawn in a game she doesn't even know is being played. This was foreshadowed earlier in the movie, when the group saw someHrgan children playing a game called "skin the fool." Dani screams and hyperventilates, and everyone else follows suit. Let's get the Saint Maud ending explained as the 2020 horror movie finally reaches home audiences. Just like earlier in the film when the village shared in the old persons pain (you know what were talking about), the villagers empathize with Dani in a way no one else has. Creed III Review: Jonathan Majors Is a Knockout, Luther: The Fallen Sun Review Bigger Isnt Always Better, Cocaine Bear Review: Pure Concept Gets Diluted, Ari Aster Teases 4-Hour Nightmare Comedy as Next Film, Midsommar: Florence Pugh Considers Ending Theories, May Queen Fandom. It's implied by the ethnic homogeneity of the community that only white outsiders are permitted to "mate" with theHrgans, while people of color like Josh and Connie are brought in purely for the purposes of ritual sacrifice. Meanwhile, Dani takes part in a ritualistic dance, based on a story about how the devil disguised himself as a fiddler, came toHrga, and forced people to dance until they died. If you've already seen Ari Aster's Hereditary follow-up Midsommar, you'll be familiar with the sense of reeling horror that it sends you home with. Midsommar is essentially a two-and-a-half-hour study of one woman's emotional journey towards emancipation from a toxic relationship. In the final ceremony of the Midsommar festival, nine human sacrifices are made in the yellow pyramid-shaped temple that Dani was told not to enter. She's hysterical because her suicidal sister isn't returning any of her messages. It feels as if Dani is fated to become the May Queen, something that Pelle (who clearly has feelings for her anyhow; he speaks kindly to her, remembers her birthday, and kisses her full on the mouth) perhaps senses, and thats why hes so delighted when she decides to come to Sweden with the group. What happens once they're there is something that's lost to legend and fiercely protected by the locals, but luckily we get to (safely) share in the festivities as the viewing audience. Aster also told the New York Times that the pre-Christian traditions found throughout the film were drawn from Scottish anthropologist James George Frazer's 1890 book "The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion.".