Let The Right One In

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Postby robthegreatt » Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:57 pm

Yah especially when nobody can explain it themselves hahahaha
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Postby Lester Toil » Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:42 pm

Spoiler alert:

Why do you all continue to call Eli "her"? He said he wasn't a she.
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Postby krisvahl » Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:15 pm

Lester Toil wrote:Spoiler alert:

Why do you all continue to call Eli "her"? He said he wasn't a she.


I think you misunderstood, Lester. I think what she did say was that she wasn't a 'girl', implying that mentally she was a grown (elderly) 'woman' trapped in an unaging girl's body.
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Postby Lester Toil » Thu Dec 18, 2008 5:31 pm

I completely thought she meant that in the same way, too, but then I remembered she said on two occasions she wasn't a girl and you may also recall the scene where we see a glimpse that his genitals had been completely removed from his body and sewn shut. Granted it was definitely a girl playing the role, but I walked away assuming it really WAS a boy.
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Postby Kelly Tindall » Thu Dec 18, 2008 5:41 pm

SPOILER CITY

In the book, Eli reveals that he is 200 years old, and was castrated before he was turned into a vampire. He is basically an 'it'.
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Postby krisvahl » Thu Dec 18, 2008 6:16 pm

Well there you go...I'll rewatch this in a whole different light now.
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Postby Lester Toil » Thu Dec 18, 2008 6:56 pm

Yeah, I just read online that, according to the book, Eli was born a boy and castrated by other vampires. I knew there was something up with that whole sewn-up genital thing.
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Postby krisvahl » Thu Dec 18, 2008 7:08 pm

More SPOILERS...

Y'know, I'm all for subtle storytelling, but I think most of the cues that revealed Eli was a boy were too easily misinterpreted as other plot elements.

For example-

- Eli saying she wasn't a girl was easily misinterpreted as referring to her vampiric age.
- Seeing her genitals, was easily misinterpreted as Oskar's sexual curiosity.

Apparently Eli's back story was filmed but cut for the final edit. Would be interesting if it get's restored in the DVD version.

There's an interview with director, Tomas Alfredson here...

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/38870
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Postby Doh » Sun Jan 11, 2009 11:58 pm

Finally saw it tonight -- fantastic. For those of you in L.A., it's still playing at the Regency Fairfax for at least this week. I highly recommend it.

I'm glad you guys explained Eli's background; my friend and I were wondering what was up with the scar above "her" genitals. If they filmed background material, I'd love to see more. Now I want to read the book.

http://www.regencymovies.com/main.php?theaterId=16
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Postby Blue Pillow » Fri Jan 16, 2009 5:35 pm

Just chiming in on how great this movie was. :)

I, too, found Eli's gender issue too ambiguous to interpret--but I liked the ambiguity, it created a sense of realism by implying a deeper, unspoken background--I think I prefer that to being told all the specifics of the character's history. It also helped relate Oskar's point of view, since he knew no more than the audience, and was left to act only on his youthful, unformed emotions, his need for companionship and validation.
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Postby Lester Toil » Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:44 pm

Doh wrote:Now I want to read the book.


The movie supposedly pails to the book which obviously means it's a great read.
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Postby HellboyOne » Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:40 pm

Lester Toil wrote:
Doh wrote:Now I want to read the book.


The movie supposedly pails to the book which obviously means it's a great read.


I always hear that about The Shining. Then I hear about bushes running around in the book and I roll my eyes.
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Postby Lazu » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:15 pm

Great movie,

why did the parents split? and who was the guy who came to visit the main character's dad, his buddy or partner?
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Postby krisvahl » Sat Jan 24, 2009 1:38 am

Lazu wrote:Great movie,

why did the parents split? and who was the guy who came to visit the main character's dad, his buddy or partner?


I think you just answered your own question.
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Postby Lazu » Sat Jan 24, 2009 3:39 pm

It's just a hunch i had after the reaction the kid gave when the other guy arrived when he and dad were playing a game.

Have to read the book for clarity i guess
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