The Scene That Didn't Quite Work

[El Defenestrator]

I think the scene would have worked much better if there had just been a horizontal pink scar, since as I remember it (it's been a few months), in the film it was more of a mess of stitching that could be construed as hair. Which, of course, doesn't make sense in conjunction with Eli's age, so you're even more left wondering "wtf did I just see?"

[Tom]

Maybe the scene was meant to be disturbing, because this movie was so much more than a simple love story.

[EEA]

Well I read the book and then saw the film. When that scene came I did not find any problem since it comes fast that I forgot about it.

[danielma]

On one hand I will say that I think it does work and to this day, I still wonder how in the hell people confuse that for a Vagina...its Smooth with no definition, a Vagina does not look like that...any trip to health class, porno magazine, random image online should be more then enough to point out that what is presented on Eli DOESN'T look like a Vagina

On that hand, I've never gotten it and if anything it speaks more about the viewer then it does the movie...because I saw it and clearly understood that it wasn't a vagina...to me that speaks more of the audience who don't want to admit that they were looking at that scene because of the awkwardness involved.

Now on the other hand, I somewhat agree that the shot doesn't really add anything to the overall movie...I guess the most that one could argue is that it adds to the idea of just how non-sexual their relationship is...as in its awkward and confusing and doesn't make too much sense...much like sexuality doesn't make too much sense at this stage in life for Oskar...its clear he's never seen junk downstairs by his confused expression upon seeing it

I think that it adds somewhat to the awkward non-sexual relationship between Oskar and Eli but it doesn't necessarily explain itself well enough. Its kind of vauge as a whole.

To go off on a bit of a tangent, to this day, I'm still a subscriber of the "Pedophile Aspect Would NOT have ruined the love story, if anything it would have added to the love story"...I'm not saying we needed the Graphic "Zomkan Ejaculation" scenes but I think the film would have been slightly better if they had explored the idea of that corrupted relationship between Eli and Hakan vs. the rather innocent non sexually corrupt love between Oskar and Eli

If there is one problem I have with BOTH films (to bring LMI in for a minute)...its the fact that I felt both of them could have done a little more with the Pedophile storyline involved...or to put it in better words, both films kind of dart around the idea of verging sexuality but never really head into it...LTROI's presentation of it is awkward and vauge...LMI's presentation of it is just as awkard, they hint at the idea but somewhat forget about it. If there is one major thing I miss from the book, it is some of the sexuality stuff that Oskar goes through, and I think that links back to the Pedophilia aspect in its own way (not to say that Oskar is a future pedophile, rather the contrast of sexuality between Hakan and Oskar and what it means to them)...I still feel there were tasteful ways to present that where it wouldn't overshadow the story between Oskar and Eli, it could have actually complimented it and made it work that much more effectively...or at least in my own thoughts.

[Ash]

It didn't work for me because it looked like make-up and also not particularly in the anatomically correct position.
But I suppose it was necessary to hammer home the castration issue in the absence of the flash-back scene after "be me a little".
If the castration occurred before Eli was turned, I guess Eli wouldn't heal like she does post-turned, just stay half healed.
Left without medical attention, I suppose the scar could look like that, but it just look fake to me.

[DarkGuyver]

You may well actually be in the minority. I saw the movie before reading the novel, and had NO damn idea what to make of it. All I got out of it was "this little 'girl' who says she's not a girl is also not a boy! This, um, 'being' has no gender at all! Is THAT what JAL's brand of vampirism does to you...?"

I'm in the same club as you, sauvin. The scene went past so quickly I didn't even notice the scar at all. Afterwards I read the novel, and remember that scene quite briefly and watched it again.

If the castration occurred before Eli was turned, I guess Eli wouldn't heal like she does post-turned, just stay half healed.
Left without medical attention, I suppose the scar could look like that, but it just look fake to me.

I remember a part in the novel stating that after Eli was castrated they cotterized his wound.

[drakkar]

It definitely would be confusing for non-readers, especially because Oskar looks momentarily surprised, and then the next second looks like he's forgotten all about it...?? I would expect him to ask some questions at least. I know it took him a lot longer than that in the novel to get over it.

I view this differently.
After the "be me a little" scene, Oskar is stunned. Why? The "older Eli" glimpse indicates he has seen into Eli's past. What if Oskar learned about Eli being a boy already at that point, and this why he is stunned? Quite possible. (And I admit I like the thought about Oskar for once being ahead of the audience, knowing something we yet don't know.)
After sitting stunned on the sofa, Oskar shrugs it off and put on some music. Eli, coming warily out from the shower (what does he think about me now) is met with a cheering and helpful Oskar, offering him clothes, and responds with this happy little twirl after dressing.

I think Oskar's peeping was simply an act of curiosity.

Yes, but perhaps out of curiosity about how a castrated boy looked.

This viewing angle explains why Oskar isnt more upset after peeping, and Elis seemingly misplaced little twirl. Because the castration issue was already a settled matter for them, but not for the audience.

[ofelia]

To go off on a bit of a tangent, to this day, I'm still a subscriber of the "Pedophile Aspect Would NOT have ruined the love story, if anything it would have added to the love story"...I'm not saying we needed the Graphic "Zomkan Ejaculation" scenes but I think the film would have been slightly better if they had explored the idea of that corrupted relationship between Eli and Hakan vs. the rather innocent non sexually corrupt love between Oskar and Eli

If there is one problem I have with BOTH films (to bring LMI in for a minute)...its the fact that I felt both of them could have done a little more with the Pedophile storyline involved...or to put it in better words, both films kind of dart around the idea of verging sexuality but never really head into it...LTROI's presentation of it is awkward and vauge...LMI's presentation of it is just as awkard, they hint at the idea but somewhat forget about it. If there is one major thing I miss from the book, it is some of the sexuality stuff that Oskar goes through, and I think that links back to the Pedophilia aspect in its own way (not to say that Oskar is a future pedophile, rather the contrast of sexuality between Hakan and Oskar and what it means to them)...I still feel there were tasteful ways to present that where it wouldn't overshadow the story between Oskar and Eli, it could have actually complimented it and made it work that much more effectively...or at least in my own thoughts.

I agree with this completely. Coming from the book I thought that Håkan in the film was kind of unceremoniously dropped. It pretty much seemed like Eli felt: oh, well, I'm done with you now, and forgot about him. Obviously that's not the case in the book, their relationship was much more complicated. There are definitely tasteful ways to do it, it could be as simple as Håkan looking at Eli in a certain way and the actor, I'm forgetting his name, could have pulled it off while still leaving us sympathetic for the character. He had such a sad, conflicted expression.

I'm wondering now how much sense not only the peek scene but the whole plot would have made to me if I hadn't read the book first. It felt like too much was taken out and there were gaps...

[TigerEyes]

well i for one am not too comfortable with the idea of adding in the pedophilia in the film, i just feel too grossed out when reading hakan's point of view in the book. However, i understand your point. I do think the story should be given something a bit more in the relationships to enhance it a bit more. However, i love the story as it is and i would rather not have it changed. I would of course like a stronger "Eli was a boy" point in the film than what we have now. But we still have our book and i am still loving and reading it. (Minus Hakan of course.)

[shaggles]

Eh. I think it worked for some people. I didn't get it until I'd read the book. Well I had heard about it. There were/are several threads devoted to that on IMDB.