further. Dani chooses Christian to be sacrificed, and he is sewn into a bear skin and placed at the center of the temple. For example, though the movie is supposed to take place in the Swedish wilderness, it was filmed in Hungary; they did, however, have a Swedish costume designer and production designer. All that to say, the sheen of this idyllic village has worn off by then. Midsommar is a visually gory and disturbing movie, even more so in the director's cut. We can see exactly how Ari Aster intended this scene to play out by examining thescript that we imported into StudioBinder's screenwriting software. However, flowers come up many other times in the film, often at points to signal great emotional gravity. Dani staggers around in her May Queen costume, sobbing, but eventually calms down and then smiles as she watches the temple burn - which is where Midsommar ends. 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. Overall, a gorgeously shot film full of sinister behaviour disguised in the most beautiful way. Christian finishes the act, then runs out of the mating house naked and discovers, in a chicken coop, what happened to Simon. Ingmars all super apologetic that Connie and Simon choose to leave, but why, if theyre just going to be killed anyway? 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). At the beginning of the film, Dani is alone in her grief. 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. Anthropological finds, however, put a focus on sacrifices in wells; Odin was said to have given up one of his eyes in order to drink from Mimir's Well and thus gain its cosmic knowledge. She chooses Christian. And, of course, the bear. As "Midsommar" has been making its way to audiences, Aster and Reynor have noticed that people are divided in their responses toward Dani and Christian and their respective fates. Sign up for the 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. Midsommar is a trip you may not always want to take. That was quite the image. 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. This was foreshadowed earlier in the movie, when the group saw someHrgan children playing a game called "skin the fool." CPAC used to be a barometer. Dont mess with the Harga.). 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. All this changes when Dani goes to the village. Midsommar's endingis about letting go of a bad relationship and opening yourself up to a better one - in a very twisted way, of course. The ending of Midsommar explained is this: Dani literally buries her past life. The Midsommar ending explained the Peles excitement for Dani joining them. She attempts to seduce Christian by spiking his drink with menstrual blood and putting her pubes in his food. Her relationship with her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) isn't great, but he invites her. There has never been a boyfriend whos more of a wet lump of nothingness than Christian. The May Queen herself is a personification of everything from youth and purity, to springtime and summertime, to ancient tree worship. Suggestions welcome. Dani's sister poisoned herself and her. Pelle certainly seemed to be grooming Dani to become one of them. 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. Midsommar ending explained. Midsommar is one of the best horror films of all time and for good reason. Midsommar, the actual holiday, is a major event in Sweden celebrated somewhere between June 20th and June 26th, and the summer solstice carries with it a wide variety of traditions, meals, and . Full IPTV List channels worldwide With 20000 channels + 40000 Movie and series. 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. The female villagers surround her and share in her grief. Both are having struggles as Dani is the emotional one, while Christian is sick of the behavior. The visitors are treated with a mushroom tea, as in drug. 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. Midsommar is Ari Asters haunting folk horror film that stunned audiences in 2019. Dani screams and hyperventilates, and everyone else follows suit. Later, when Dani is lying on her bed, we see that theres a large print hung above it. Every relationship is different, but each one depends on a foundation of shared empathy. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Weve come up with our own theories about what might have happened and what they might mean. 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. Its a Chekhovs bear, if you will. Our Midsommar synopsis opens with a scene of Dani trying to call her emotionally-distant boyfriend Christian. Unlike Mark who wees on the sacred tree, and Josh who tries to photograph and possibly steal the sacred book Connie and Simon dont really commit any obvious transgressions. 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. 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. The life of each member of the community is divided into four seasons, each lasting 18 years. Ari Asters second outing after the creepy and disturbing Hereditary. MIdsommar is a quintessential modern folk horror film. 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. A24 has released some of the most popular and beloved horror movies in recent years, and these ones grossed the most at the box office. Singer/songwriter Ariana Grande loves Midsommar. Dont just take it from us. Directors like Ari Aster (Hereditary, Midsommar), Jordan Peele (Us, Get Out) and Robert Eggers (The VVitch, The Lighthouse) established themselves as household names of the genre. The Midsommar ending explained the Pele's excitement for Dani joining them. And thats when things really start to go sideways. The outsiders are of course Mark, Josh, Connie and Simon. She is spent. Alex Murdaugh stands guilty of killing his wife and son. And thats where the second section of the film ends: The Harga havent changed, but the Americans impression of them has shifted uncomfortably. This may remind you of him mentioning his sister becoming the queen, and his parents burned to death. He is asked to mate with a girl named Maja because he is astrologically perfect for her. Heres our attempt to unpick some of the key points. 4. In Danis house theres a painting of a little girl wearing a crown reaching out to a bear. So who's the sacrificial character who gets to wear this rune? Bonfires and visits to the healing waters of local spas were and continue to be a part of the celebration. The hourglass-like Dagaz suggests a new beginning, but since it's drawn on its side, it may represent the loss of hope; this particular meaning is also up for interpretation. 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. Upon arriving at the village and ingesting hallucinogenic tea, Dani looks at herself in the mirror and is startled to see her sister. Major spoilers ahead for Midsommar. (If youre confused, recall the cloth the camera panned across earlier, hanging on a clothesline, that Pelle calls kind of a love story.). She's hysterical because her suicidal sister isn't returning any of her messages. The First four are to be outsiders. 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. The Den of Geek quarterly magazine is packed with exclusive features, interviews, previews and deep dives into geek culture. Theres the trek to the Swedish village and the final ceremony around the Maypole. It is an interesting analysis, but I don't think I agree with you talking about Christian cheating; he was raped, but Dani misunderstood. Lets find out what happens towards the ending of Midsommar. The one which they burn later. And since the date remains the lightest and brightest night of the year, it lends itself to magical thinking: One could discover treasures by tracing moonbeams, learn of a future love by eating salted porridge to see who brings you water in your dreams, or find that water was turned to wine, ferns into flowers, and other plants gained healing properties. But perhaps the most interesting runes in the film are the two that Dani (Florence Pugh) has embroidered on her traditional dress. The third and final section of the film starts out feeling like it will be kind of a whodunnit. Remember his horrible friend Mark saying that Dani was literally abusive for asking her boyfriend of more than three years to support her emotionally during family crises?). Midsommar is not the kind of film where theres a puzzle or a mystery to be solved. Look closely and you can see other events from the film within the quilt. On the more ancient and traditional side of Midsummer, some locals would dress themselves in ferns as "green men" to celebrate a season of fertility in the fields (and beyond). Pay special attention to when they show up on screen because they're representing more than just a tie to pagan lore. By the time she's on stage in her enormous flowery gown, Dani looks pretty out of it, but the one thing she does seem to be aware of is that Christian has hurt her. There's the overture: everything that happens before the title cards appear, in the. This is foreshadowed earlier in the film when Simon asks what song the kids are playing, and they answer "Skin the Fool". OtakuKart staff account publishes all sorts of entertainment, music, gaming & news articles curated by its team of content writers & contributors. But we're here to talk about the mythology and to find out just how much fact there is to this fiction. Its something a lot of people can relate to even if theyve never stuffed their ex into a bear carcass. Business; Politics; Military; Elections; Law; Immigration; Technology. Later, Dani wins a maypole dancing competition, becoming the May Queen. (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? 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.". You can wash it all down with cold beer and spiced schnapps, accompanied by a drinking song or two (dozen). Unbeknownst to them, the fastivities include violant and disturbing pagan rituals, and the locals insist that they join in. 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. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Theyre all on the couch, and Dani is seen through the mirror above, physically separated from them. Christian, who is still paralyzed, makes no sound as he burns to death inside the bear skin, but Ingemar and Ulf scream as the fire consumes them. 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. 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. From a drug tea to killing two people when turned 72 years old, the place just levels up its problematic rituals step by step. Florence Pugh wearing the famous May Queen Gown. When your partner is happy, you share in their joy. Fortunately, weve analyzed every frame to bring you a comprehensive breakdown of what this movies really about. Midsommar is the queen to Hereditary 's king, yet the placement of the crown is more satisfying. If youre looking for a review of the film, with a few basic plot details but no major spoilers, then read this instead. Maja hides a love rune under Christian's bed and bakes her pubic hair into a pie that he eats. But the traditions still carry on in their own way. The Most Interesting Articles, Mysteries and Discoveries. At least they're actually there. further reading: Midsommar Ending Explained. But it cant be them since they had their heads smashed in and were burned on the pyre. Dani's journey throughout Midsommar certainly leads to a new beginning. The dance in Midsommar that leads to the May Queen's coronation is based on the "Hrgalten" folk song, which tells of the time a devil brought his fiddle to Hrga and forced everyone there to dance to the death, as the devil does. Peeping from the keyhole, she didn't see the full truth. 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. Jump to content US Edition Change 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 .