favorite scenes in LTROI

[ZWD40]

As someone who has watched the film, my favourite scene in LTROI has to be Oskar and Eli's third meeting.

The scene starts out with a shot of Eli, staring off into space, sitting demurely on top of the jungle gym; her legs crossed, hands on top of the other, on her lap. We hear Oskar, who is off-screen, running excitedly towards Eli. Eli notices him and smiles, watching him approach. Oskar is excited. "How did you do it?" he asks, even before he gets seated. He holds out the Rubik's cube towards Eli, and pulls it back slowly as she approaches.

Oskar is uncertain of Eli. He is intrigued by her, and yet he is too shy to keep his eyes on her. His gaze wanders.
Eli inches closer, taking the initiative. "Do I smell better now?" she asks, looking for approval. Oskar can't help himself and smiles and looks away. After gathering his courage, he asks "what is your name" softly, imploringly.

"Eli"
"What's yours?"

"Eli?" He's puzzled. His eyebrows meet in confusion. Eli affirms that he got her name right. He remembers to answer her question "Oh, yeah, um, I'm Oskar"

"How old are you?" He asks, just as softly as earlier but with a little bit more confidence now.

"Twelve ... more or less"
"What about you?"

He doesn't understand how she could give such an answer --kids should know they exact age. To show his point, he gives his exact age, down to the days.
"12 years, 8 months and 9 days" "What do you mean "more or less"?" He says in one breath -- itching to know why she gave such an answer. His eyebrows still scrunched up in bewilderment.

Eli doesn't answer

Oskar pushes on "When's your birthday?"

"I don't know"

Oskar can't comprehend how such a child could not know their own birthday. It's the most important and happiest day for children, when they get presents. He offers his Rubik's cube to her. She declines.

After the puzzling introductions are done, they go back to the Rubik's cube.

Eli offer's to teach Oskar how to solve it.

Eli is engrossed in solving the puzzle, her attention on the cube, talking to herself. For the first time, her eyes, her focus aren't on Oskar.

With Eli's focus away from him, Oskar's observes Eli freely, trying to take in as much as he could; cube far from his mind. He inches his head lower, closer, to get a better look at her. He looks at her hands, her face, her eyes, her hair.




Oskar and Eli's Third Meeting -- Getting to know each other
Despite Eli's puzzling answers, Oskar accepts what little she gives him -- he finally found a friend, and he couldn't have asked for more








I'm not sure if this scene, by itself, will have the same impact for people who haven't watched it yet, than it did to us who saw the whole movie, and watched it countless times.


This scene displays the power of subtlety, and honest, yet powerful delivery.
You get drawn into Eli, the way Oskar does, with Lina's performance. Her constant eye contact. The little smiles she throws at him. Her showing of initiative -- to get to know Oskar more and get closer to him. Contrasted by her showing of guarded reluctance/withdrawal -- afraid of Oskar knowing more, and possibly scaring him off.

You get drawn into Oskar, the way Eli does, with Kare's performance. His yearning for a connection, with his shyness throwing him for loop, when he get's a response. Him taking in as much Eli as he can handle.

[OUTSIDER]

WOW, ZWD40 .... Your description of this scene completely blows away the one I posted on page 2!

[ZWD40]

WOW, ZWD40 .... Your description of this scene completely blows away the one I posted on page 2!

In the middle of creating that post, I kinda viewed that scene again, to identify the small things that the 2 actors did that made that particular scene so lovely and memorable

I just read the entire thread and realized there's only 2 of us that liked that scene the most


Kare really played up the "shy" image well in this scene; not being able to keep his eyes on Eli longer than 3 seconds
Until Eli was preoccupied with the cube, that is. At which time, Kare just looks at Eli from all angles as if she were a work of art. Adorable!

[DMt.]

Well, I like that scene more than BOTH a youse, see?

[call_e]

That very moment when Oskar opens the door makes me warm every time, Eli's smile is just the best.

[intrige]

Kåre really played up the "shy" image well in this scene; not being able to keep his eyes on Eli longer than 3 seconds
Until Eli was preoccupied with the cube, that is. At which time, Kare just looks at Eli from all angles as if she were a work of art. Adorable!

He only dare when she's not looking. I agree So cute. And the best thing is that so much is told just by the , ooh. How can I put this,. You can she that he likes her, if you know what I mean. Oskar dont tell Eli: "Oh, you are so pritty today." No, but you can see what he think about her.

The scene I like the most must be.. Hmm.. The bed scene, and. The pool scene, cause it was SO well done. My gosh.. Oh and that : "Bli mig lite" scene, where Eli is presented as something jusl like Oskar. His opesite, but yet so very much alike..

[rgh]

That very moment when Oskar opens the door makes me warm every time, Eli's smile is just the best.

Great scene. The funny thing is that I really got pissed off at Oskar for being mean to her here.

[ZWD40]

Great scene. The funny thing is that I really got pissed off at Oskar for being mean to her here.

I wanted to punch him in the face for treating Eli so

[call_e]

That very moment when Oskar opens the door makes me warm every time, Eli's smile is just the best.

Great scene. The funny thing is that I really got pissed off at Oskar for being mean to her here.

The same over here!

[a_contemplative_life]

The key was not Oskar's thoughtlessness, but Eli's response to his thoughtlessness. That's what makes the scene beautiful, IMHO.