Eli and the Wall: Interpretation please?

[gkmoberg1]

My interpretation of the scene sees this as a candid view of Eli's loneliness.

I don't think she is aware of Hakan's plight. Although his failure to return may be adding to her unease.

In the silence of sitting there in the flat, perhaps for a while by Oskar's wall, I think she knows (sound/scent) that he is not there.

To me the scene exposes her loneliness and is put there as a chance for us to consider the depth of it. 200 x 365 is a lot of nights, all her waking hours, to spend largely by herself. (Okay, true, we don't know it is 200 yrs in the movie.) That void alone is troublesome. But recently she has something new in her life, this young friend. I think working over this budding friendship in her mind could be very consuming across each night. What else is there to do when she's had years to consider all else? This new notion - friendship - after all that time, since perhaps she last played in sunlight, could well be rocking the stability of her precarious existence. Add the ingredients together and I, at least, get a sense of despair. She wants to reach out to her new friend. But her hand can't talk to his. She can't play, she can't communicate with him, and all she can do is sit and let the silence roll on.

[ZWD40]

I think it was mostly because Eli "gave her word" to Hakan to not meet Oskar... or at least acknowledged Hakan's situation
Even without actualy meeting in person(as Hakan requested), Eli was still hesitant to initiate the contact with Oskar

Pretty admirable of Eli, despite how she sees Hakan.

[lombano]

I've always viewed it as Eli keeping her promise, but it could also be simply that she knows Oskar isn't there. This is one of the scenes that, incidentally, refutes the 'evil Eli' interpretation - Eli is saddened by not communicating with Oskar, and as she's alone there's nobody she could be pretending for.

[rgh]

I think the most important thing to come out of this scene is the sense of loneliness, isolation, and sadness for Eli. Just looking at the still shot without context, you can feel it.

[jonjon_z]

I think the most important thing to come out of this scene is the sense of loneliness, isolation, and sadness for Eli. Just looking at the still shot without context, you can feel it.

My thoughts exactly.

[ricc9]

So alone......

[crazychristina]

So alone......

Looking at this image reminds me of something else. The slope down to the right, called a Dutch angle I think (although that term is actually a degradation of Deutch because it was beloved of German expressionist film makers. As though she's sliding away, losing her sense of stability. Particularly as it's not an action shot.

[ricc9]

So alone......

Looking at this image reminds me of something else. The slope down to the right, called a Dutch angle I think (although that term is actually a degradation of Deutch because it was beloved of German expressionist film makers. As though she's sliding away, losing her sense of stability. Particularly as it's not an action shot.

Just another part that tugs at your heart for Eli..

[a_contemplative_life]

To me the scene exposes her loneliness and is put there as a chance for us to consider the depth of it. 200 x 365 is a lot of nights, all her waking hours, to spend largely by herself. (Okay, true, we don't know it is 200 yrs in the movie.) That void alone is troublesome. But recently she has something new in her life, this young friend. I think working over this budding friendship in her mind could be very consuming across each night. What else is there to do when she's had years to consider all else? This new notion - friendship - after all that time, since perhaps she last played in sunlight, could well be rocking the stability of her precarious existence.

It was this idea that motivated me to write my first fan fiction about LTROI. Eli's inner thoughts about what's happening in her life during the film, every dawn before she falls asleep. I found the idea of her wrestling with these issues most intriguing.

[zephonate]

I've never had any doubts about this scene, which is why it makes me so sad for Eli every time I see it. This is just my interpretation though.

I've always taken that scene to mean Eli knew Oskar was away at his dad's. She lifted her hand (did she actually touch the wall? Have to go back and check), stopped, pulled back. She knew Oskar was gone, but had started getting used to (not to mention relishing) having someone around to wish her sweet dreams. I'm sure most would agree that one might be able to get used to loneliness after a while, though a brief reprieve from it can make the return to isolation that much more unbearable.

Very simply, I think she was just feeling very sad. Very lonely. She missed him.