Christian has, according to his friends, wanted out of the relationship for more than a year (we laterlearn that Christian forgot not only their four-year anniversary, but also Dani's birthday). Its rich, gorgeous, lucid nightmare of a movie (check out our review) packed with shocks and images you cant unsee. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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. He mates with her, and as she moans, so does the other woman with her. They are joined by an English couple as well. newsletter. They return to the commune and work from ages 36 to 54 (fall), and from ages 54 to 72 (winter) they lead the community as elders. To be clear, the disturbing element lives on for Midsommar and creepy too but in quite a weird form. She chooses Christian. Midsommar is the story of Dani's emotional journey You can split Midsommar into a few distinct sections. Moreover,she also seems to recognize that Christian is the best choice for the sacrifice that represents the exorcism of evil from the community, because he - not theHrgans - is the source of her pain. He illustrated a number of fairy tales, including Oskuldens Vandring (translated something like The Walk of Innocence), a fairy tale by Helena Nyblom about a sensual but innocent young girl walking through a forest. But lets break it down a little further though. However, were it not for the loss of her family, Christian likely would have broken up with her and she wouldnt have put him in a bear and burned him. But looking at the way Chrisitan was as a boyfriend in the past, she takes his name for sacrifice. Over the course of these days, we see Dani slowly realize how manipulative and emotionally abusive Christian has been. Midsommar is essentially a two and a half hour study of one woman's emotional journey towards emancipation from a toxic relationship. Coming from the man who directed Hereditary, gosh we were all in for Midsommar back in 2019. Shes also a future queen. Hes a screenwriter based out of Los Angeles whos written several short films as well as sketch comedy for various theaters around LA. Josh and Christian stay because they are planning to base their theses on the community. Midsommar is not the kind of film where theres a puzzle or a mystery to be solved. As May Queen, its up to Dani to decide whether Christian or one of the cult followers will become the final participant. Four from the community, with two who volunteered and two who turned 72 years old. Related:Ari Aster and Jack Reynor Interview: Midsommar. Other runes that show up include representations of secret initiations and tangible or intangible things inherited through the family line (which are seen on the paintings in the boarding house and the shape of the communal dining table), a rune for leadership (seen on the matriarch's dress), combined or "bound" runes in the sacrificial structure that mean fertility and procreation along with a gift of generosity or sacrifice, and, as seen on the rune stone above, an inverted rune (known as a "merkstave") which suggests a negative connotation of the rune's original meaning. This was foreshadowed earlier in the movie, when the group saw someHrgan children playing a game called "skin the fool." Their research included visits to local folklore museums, tours of centuries-old farms with paintings on the walls similar to those found in the movie, and traditional cultural solstice celebrations, along with studies of British and German folklore. Originally, B-Reel Films and producer Patrik Andersson brought Aster an idea for a folk horror picture centered on the concept of "Americans going to Sweden and getting killed off." Because he pisses on an ancestral tree of the place where peoples burnt ashes are put into place. Midsommar is a brutish, nasty daylight nightmare from the director of Hereditary, Ari Aster on his new film Midsommar: I keep telling people I want it to be confusing. The dance sees Dani winning the part, and everyone applauds her and showers respect. Florence Pugh wearing the famous May Queen Gown. In another post, we have a complete breakdown of the entire Midsommar script, including a PDF download. 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. Master the art of visual storytelling with our FREE video series on directing and filmmaking techniques. Later, Dani wins a maypole dancing competition, becoming the May Queen. Its something a lot of people can relate to even if theyve never stuffed their ex into a bear carcass. Why? That was quite the image. 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. This series of rituals isrevealed shortly after the outsiders arrive inHrga, when Connie and Simon examine a tapestry that shows a woman falling in love with a man, placing flowers under his pillow, and then hiding her pubic hair in his food - resulting in the man falling in love with and impregnating her. Later, Christian has a meeting withHrga elder Siv (Gunnel Fred), where she tells him that he has been granted permission to mate with Maja. MIdsommar is a quintessential modern folk horror film. Rosie Fletcher is the UK Editor of Den Of Geek. Were in a golden age of TV writing and development. He wont leave with her (though she fears he would leave without her) and ultimately her journey leads her to believe its better for her to stay. Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! Midsommar is one of the best horror films of all time and for good reason. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Firstly, because then we wouldnt have a movie. However, whether you really lock into whats happening at the end depends on how attentive you were to what happened earlier, particularly shifts in Danis mental and emotional state. So who are the locals who are dressed up like trees? 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. Now, as Dani is Queen May, she needed to decide between Christain and a random stranger from the community. 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. At the same time, Christian is taken away and drugged as well with the same tea. But who are the other two? (Mark wanders off with a girl with whom he has not been approved to mate; Josh sneaks back into the Oracles house to read from the sacred book of runes, and is killed by the Oracle, now wearing Marks face. Financial contributions from our readers are a critical part of supporting our resource-intensive work and help us keep our journalism free for all. The movie follows a group of college students who travel to a pagan festival in Sweden and get caught up in a terrifying ordeal. Chrisitan, in a rush, returns home to comfort his love Dani but when she finds out about his trip. The end of Midsommar begins after Dani wins the dance battle to become the May Queen (a symbolic fight against the Devil-like entity known as the Black One). Create robust and customizable shot lists. However, having brought the May Queen toHrga, Pelle isspared from being sacrificed and instead given the highest honors. The commune members collectively share feelings of joy and grief, allowing for Dani to . This could, incidentally, be read as a nod to Swedens history; when they first land in Sweden, Mark remarks crassly on how beautiful Swedish women are, and Josh tells him its because the Vikings dragged the most beautiful women from other lands back with them.). For example, theres a moment everyone believes Simon left the village without telling his girlfriend Connie behind. 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. At the beginning of the film, Dani is alone in her grief. TheHrgans watching outside the temple scream and thrash along with them. Midsommar is a trip you may not always want to take. For example, as The Week sums up, said runes are used in literal ways throughout the film, though it helps to know what they mean ahead of time. Midsommar ending explained. A visual medium requires visual methods. TwoHrgans have also already been sacrificed, dismembered, and turned into strange art pieces that are displayed during the final ceremony. CPAC used to be a barometer. Midsommar has an abundance of overt and obscure references to Swedish folklore. 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. Her relationship with her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) isn't great, but he invites her. If she doesnt put Christian in a bear and burn him, shes never going to be free. Midsommar, the new movie from Hereditary director Ari Aster, is not what youd call a straightforward, lighthearted summer film. And thats when things really get cracking. Quite a straightforward tale following a group of individuals visiting a place with a culture full of disturbing rituals. Pelle lays out the life cycle ofHrgans for his friends shortly after they arrive in the commune. She's been given drugged tea that's causing her to have strange visions, danced to the point of exhaustion, and experienced the emotional trauma of seeing Christian have sex with another woman, followed by a release of emotion with her newfound sisters. Ari Aster's new horror film Midsommar has an ending that's about as horrifying as you'd expect from the writer-director who made last year's Hereditary. While Christian is sympathetic, its clear hes only staying with her because shes suffered such an immense loss. In Midsommar's ending we see the final part of the festival's twisted traditions, as nine human sacrifices are offered up to the gods in exchange for nine new lives, in the form of babies conceived during the Midsommar celebrations. The Year In Geek Quiz: how's your nerdy knowledge of 2019? The ending of Midsommar explained is this: Dani literally buries her past life. The pair go to. This leads to another weird ritual which sees the community inserting Christians body into a bears skin and putting it inside a temple. Dani is the primary protagonist, and we can divide the film into three sections to track her progress. Also Simon getting flowers for eyes and hung up in a chicken coup isnt not ritualistic. Fortunately, weve analyzed every frame to bring you a comprehensive breakdown of what this movies really about. However, things take a dark turn during the first ceremony, when two elders of the commune commit ritualistic suicide. 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). As Christian burns in his bear skin, he represents the symbolic casting out of evil for the community, and the exorcism of Dani's pain and grief. 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. As with Aster . Dont think so. 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. Google Pay. Heres. 4 Jul 2019. Let's lighten things up a little, shall we? When he is finished, Maja declares that she canfeel herself becoming pregnant - at which point Christian has, unfortunately for him, outlived his usefulness. 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. In Danis house theres a painting of a little girl wearing a crown reaching out to a bear. Dani, at the beginning of the film, loses her family tragically she is orphaned. 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. 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 isnt crazy and although Christian is a terrible boyfriend its quite the leap to put him in a bear and burn him. Though many try to escape at different points for the rest of the film, all but one are murdered and used in human sacrifice rituals. There are also plants all around Danis apartment, in stark contrast to the snowy landscape outside. The dead bodies are then cremated and the ashes are scattered around a sacred ancestral tree. [EMBED_VIMEO]https://vimeo.com/39345149[/EMBED_VIMEO]. Midsommar opens up to the falling relationship of Dani and Christian. Spoilers ahead for those of you who haven't seen Midsommar but still have a passing curiosity in Swedish festival lore. Meanwhile, Dani joins the woman in the May Queen dance. Simon and Connie have gone missing, and soon after, Josh and Mark both disappear after disrespecting the traditions of the Harga. Four from Hrga, four outsiders, and one final choice to be made by the May Queen. She can choose between Christian or a Harga selected by lottery, and she chooses Christian. All Rights Reserved. Dead Berserkers were often put in bear skins ahead of their funeral rites, so it could be a reference to that? Christian and all his friends go up in flames, and she acts out their pain just like the villagers. Theres a bit more bear-based foreshadowing before the guys even get to Hrga. 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. In the early scenes, we see the inside of Danis apartment, and its useful to note how its decorated. 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. Lets find out what happens towards the ending of Midsommar. The public celebration, organized by towns, villages, and community groups, was historically held on April 30th. Whether that new path is one of freedom and hopefulness or just a different sort of cage is up to each viewer to decide. 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.