Dance Under the Maypole

Approaching this film with the mindset of "Hereditary," I quickly realized that "Midsommar" was completely different from what I expected. In contrast to "Hereditary," it didn't feel like a horror film, at least not in the traditional sense. "Midsommar" shares similarities in overall atmosphere and even plot with the 1973 film "The Wicker Man," but its themes are distinct and even more terrifying. This terror isn't overt jump scares; it's the restrained fear lurking behind the scenes. In this aspect, it's somewhat reminiscent of "Rosemary's Baby."

However, as I mentioned earlier, "Midsommar" offers a unique viewing experience unlike the films mentioned above. It resembles a beautifully crafted adult fairy tale, where a couple's breakup coincides with their visit to a peculiar Swedish village with bizarre customs. In this land where the sun hardly sets, they become participants in a seemingly never-ending dance around the

Maypole.

Dani's Breakup, Purification, and Awakening

The film's central theme revolves around the journey of the female lead, Dani, who travels to Sweden with her boyfriend Christian to attend a folk ritual after the death of her family. The trip ultimately culminates in Dani and Christian's breakup, Dani's self-discovery and acceptance, making it, despite its disturbing elements, a sort of happy ending.

What we come to know is that Christian doesn't actually love Dani; their years together have seen his passion wane, and he only reluctantly stays in the relationship, unable to bring himself to initiate the breakup, especially after learning of Dani's family tragedy. Thus, he continues to maintain this relationship due to guilt and peer pressure. However, it's clear to us that their love has long withered, as Christian has consistently shown disregard for Dani, forgetting her birthday, the duration of their relationship, and even keeping secrets from her. This journey ultimately opens Dani's eyes to the true nature of their relationship, helping her break free from expectations.

The interesting thing is that the script for this film was written by director Ari Aster during his own breakup, so it undoubtedly contains that awkwardness and despair that comes with the end of a relationship.

Dani's ultimate despair with Christian erupts in the final scene when she looks through the peephole. Of course, throughout the entire film, the groundwork for their emotional detachment and Dani's efforts to maintain the relationship crumble. However, at the same time, as one set of emotions collapses, another quietly builds. She is embraced by this small Swedish town and shares her joys and sorrows with the people there. Her pain from losing her family and the breakup is borne by everyone around her. In the circle dance under the Maypole, she manages to communicate her emotions despite language barriers, and so she ultimately chooses to assimilate into this community where she can find a place to belong, severing all attachment to her past in the final ritual of burning.

Customs in a Secluded Village and Reproductive Worries

The director's choice of this small Swedish village undoubtedly took into account many Nordic folk tales. The grandest scene in the film, the dance around the Maypole, is actually an important religious festival in various parts of Europe. For example, in Germany, people dress in festival attire, wear floral wreaths, and dance around the Maypole. "Midsummer," or "midsommar" in Swedish, is also a celebration of the arrival of the summer solstice among Nordic people.

Another climax in the film is the activity on the mountain where people commit suicide, referred to as "attestupa" in the movie. This is the name of many cliffs in Sweden, and in ancient Sweden, when the elderly could no longer care for themselves, they would jump off these cliffs.

In fact, many customs in the film may seem strange, but they are not terrifying for the sake of horror, unlike most horror films. Most of the rituals in "Midsommar" have an underlying logic, and their purpose is to ensure the prosperity of the community, both in terms of population and sustenance.

For example, the dance around the Maypole involves selecting the woman who perseveres the longest, and she represents the community by burying grains and meat in the ground to pray for a bountiful harvest in the coming year. This is a custom that wouldn't seem out of place even in real society. However, due to the isolated and secluded nature of this village, some customs inevitably take a darker turn.

The first one is the ritual of the elderly voluntarily ending their lives, which already exists in real-world societies. Then, there's the end-of-the-film ritual that involves sacrificing nine souls. Moreover, rooted in the desire for reproduction, there's the mating ritual between Maya and Christian.

There's also the consumption of food mixed with female pubic hair and menstrual blood and the act of placing the love rune beneath the bed, which resembles a love charm.

Due to the size of the village, close-kin mating becomes unavoidable, resulting in the existence of individuals like Ruben, who are considered to transmit the will of God. She freely draws patterns in the village's book, a clear misunderstanding by the village of things they don't understand.

Similarly, it's about reproductive desire. I've always believed that the main character's demonstration of her vitality was actually to prove that she is the most suitable for bearing offspring. Although the film doesn't provide a follow-up, it's likely that Dani would become the primary source of reproduction in the small village.

Stripping Away the Facade of Fools

If we were to say that some of the customs mentioned above could still be explained as divergences that have evolved over time in the village, then the murders of all but the main character undeniably reveal the evil that never lurks far from the sunshine.

In fact, when the group of travelers arrived at this place, they were left with only two options: to accept and live in this manner or to die and become sacrificial offerings.

Simon and Connie from London were the first to meet their end, and there is no doubt that they were the first to attempt an escape. Naturally, the village would not allow anyone to leak their secrets. It's not like the tranquil seclusion; this Swedish village was determined to ensure they could never speak of these secrets. Simon's fate involved a torturous ordeal in the chicken coop, and earlier in the film, Pelle mentioned his expertise in this area. Simon might have been Pelle's creation.

Mark followed closely behind; he was the most disrespectful toward the village. Right from the beginning of the movie, his mind was preoccupied with how to get intimate with a Nordic girl. His urination near the ancestral tree undoubtedly hastened his death, and as he was lured away by a girl, Mark met his end. Interestingly, in the film, it seemed like Mark's skin was peeled after his death, and earlier in the movie, there was a reference to "skin the fool." When you think about it, Mark might have truly been the most foolish one in the group.

Josh, the African American, disobeyed the teachings of the elders and secretly took photos of the sacred book at night. Although Josh appeared on the surface to be the most interested in the village's culture, being an anthropologist, he had no reverence or respect in his heart. All he wanted was to record these things for his own knowledge, and this attitude undoubtedly made it impossible for him to truly integrate into the village.

As for Christian, on the one hand, he didn't want to escape, and on the other hand, he wasn't disrespectful, so we can see that he wasn't directly sentenced to death. In fact, Christian was the most lost among all of them. He clearly wanted to break up with Dani but never voiced it. He was clearly tempted by Maja, yet he hesitated due to Dani. He was shocked by the cliff-jumping ritual, but in reality, he didn't take it seriously. His attempts to understand the customs were nothing more than empty words driven by temporary enthusiasm. Christian was a very lost person; he didn't know what he should do. So, even when he ran out naked after the mating ritual, he didn't know where to go. Of course, for the people in the village, he was just a tool for reproduction.

So, in the end, the main character chose Christian as the sacrifice, which was actually giving his aimless life a final purpose. Although it may seem like Christian was clueless before his death, he was also a fool.

Murals, Portraits

A common thread shared with "Hereditary" is that "Midsommar" also utilizes external objects to aid in the progression of the plot.

In "Hereditary," it's the miniature model depicting the tragic scene of the daughter's death that the mother obsesses over, creating a powerful visual parallel with the events of the film.

In "Midsommar," the plot progression is assisted through paintings. For example, the love-making flowchart on the bedsheet, which hints at a forthcoming twist for the audience, or the mural behind the protagonist's bed. This mural features images of a bleeding hand, a depiction of sexual intercourse being observed, and a dance around the Maypole with people igniting a building with torches. These images, whether foreshadowing or reflecting events in the film, complement the unfolding narrative.

There's also another painting: the portrait that Pelle gives to Dani as a birthday gift. On one hand, Pelle's care for Dani, culminating in their eventual kiss, undoubtedly makes Dani feel a different kind of attention compared to being with Christian. Pelle expressed early on how happy he was that Dani could come, and perhaps he had foreseen Dani becoming the May Queen (for lack of a better term). It's possible that all of this was part of his plan. Consequently, the deaths of Dani's family at the beginning may have involved another perpetrator.

Myth, Fairytale

The final sacrifice involves 9 people, the midsummer festival lasts for 9 days, and this event occurs once every 90 years, emphasizing the number 9 throughout the film.

The movie seems to have a special fascination with the number 9. In Greek mythology, it takes 9 days to fall from heaven to earth, and another 9 days to fall from earth into Tartarus, which is synonymous with Hell in Greek mythology.

Despite its disturbing plot elements, this film is undeniably beautiful and at times feels like a fairytale. Particularly when the female protagonist becomes queen and enters that small carriage, it's reminiscent of Cinderella entering her pumpkin carriage.

The beauty of this film extends to various aspects, especially the acting, particularly that of the female lead, which is nothing short of remarkable. The overall color palette of subdued whites set against lush lawns and blue skies creates an enchanting atmosphere. Not to mention the stunning cinematography with occasional long shots paired with unconventional yet highly effective music and sound design. Although the film's tone isn't cheerful, the viewing experience remains visually stunning and emotionally engaging.

Of course, if you don't immerse yourself in the film, the rituals may seem absurd and comical. However, when these seemingly bizarre rituals reveal their fangs, it's hard to find anything laughable.

In the conventional sense, horror films tend to unfold in darkness, starting from classics like 1922's "Nosferatu" and 1922's "Nosferatu." "The Witch." "Midsommar," on the other hand, departs from the typical horror genre. Most of the film's scenes take place in broad daylight, and it's the crimes committed under the glaring sun that are most unsettling because daylight conceals the shadows of the perpetrators, making you think you're safe. You're spinning joyfully around the Maypole, and before you know it, you're all alone.