Håkan and the jogger

[rgh]

Did anyone else wonder about the cars passing by while Håkan was hanging his victim up to drain the blood? It was pretty well lit and almost no cover. They could almost certainly see them, as they were not that far away.

(This was probably due to not being able to close the road for filming, but it always strikes me odd when I watch it.)

[Ash]

I assume that scene was shot in Luleå, and I've wondered why it was so dark in that forest (but so bright where Hakan was). It was supposed to be an hour before dark but the sky is black.

http://www.mattfind.com/12345673215-3-2 ... 940247.jpg

[ZWD40]

yeah, these little "details" in ltroi have always caught my attention (esp on the first 10 viewings) and interrupted me from staying immersed in the film

[drakkar]

Håkan was meant to be shown as an incompetent killer - worst serial killer in (film) history according to TA.
So it could be an explanation.
I get it this was the idea behind how he directed the film: Håkans backstory and true nature couldn't be spelled out because it could overshadow the story about Eli and Oskar. Instead they made a lot of small hints and suggestions, and left it open for the watchers to decide for themselves.

[a_contemplative_life]

I have sometimes wondered how much of what we are given is the result of some artistic license with the lighting. Sprayed light or whatever the term was, certainly added to the horror.

[Wolfchild]

I have sometimes wondered how much of what we are given is the result of some artistic license with the lighting. Sprayed light or whatever the term was, certainly added to the horror.

The "spray light" term was what Tomas used to describe the non-directional light used in indoor scenes - mostly in Eli's apartment, I think. There are no practicals, since the apartment is mostly bare, so they needed light that didn't appear to originate from anywhere, except generally from above.

The outdoor night time lighting is meant to resemble moonlight. Under the light of a full moon, it seems somewhat reasonable that Håkan could have enough light to work under trees and he would be able to see very clearly the lights of passing cars, but anyone outside of the woods looking in would see mostly dark shadows. Also, this fits very much with Tomas' concept that the violence in this film takes place where people could see it, but they were always turned away, looking elsewhere. Oskar's teacher, Mr. Avila were literally turned away when violence occurred. Oskar's mother and Gösta figuratively turned away. Oskar's father too, for that matter. So too, even if the people in the cars could have seen, their faces were also turned away.

[Angelmaker]

I thought the same thing but like drakkar said it's probably to show what took a long time to explain in the book that Hakan isn't a born killer and isn't at all good at it. Like with his next botched attempt when he tries to use the window to hold the torch in place. In the book the area he killed the boy in seemed more enclosed I thought.

[Lou-chan]

Yeah, I reacted to that too. And especially at how someone passes him by right before he starts talking to the victim.

But in the end, the answer is very simple: Håkan is incompetent.