What is our infection?

[Darkness Incarnate]

I haven't been able to find a post with this question so I'm sorry if this question has been raised before.
I found out about LTROI a month and a half ago, when my family and I were staying at a hotel in Malawi. I was just browsing the channels at night when I stumbled upon the film when Oskar first showed Eli his rubiks cube. After I watched it I found that I couldn't get it out of my head. I actually lost sleep over it and now that I have read the book, I cannot help but wonder, What infected us? I thought to myself: was it the story? yes. was it the themes? yes. Characters? yes. Setting? yes. Atmosphere? yes. I cannot seem to pinpoint what part of LTROI infected me so I thought I would ask veterans. Oh and sorry for the long intro.

[Darkness Incarnate]

If it would help, I am 16 and, according to my friends, a bit desensitized to violence and gore.
I never really liked romantic stuff until now. Never really liked vampires too much (preferred werewolves) 'till now.
LTROI actually prompted me to buy a rubiks cube (still not finished)
and my full name is Lalrinchhana. It's just one name so call me Chhana

[Wolfchild]

What infected us? I thought to myself: was it the story? yes. was it the themes? yes. Characters? yes. Setting? yes. Atmosphere? yes. I cannot seem to pinpoint what part of LTROI infected me so I thought I would ask veterans. Oh and sorry for the long intro.

I have been Infected since April of 2009, and I have been searching for this same answer ever since. The search has been so interesting that, at this point, I think I'll be okay with it if I never find the answer.

Your intro was not really very long, but it was very familiar.

Welcome!

[a_contemplative_life]

Sometimes everything just comes together and smacks you in the head! Consider yourself lucky.

Hope you have fun poking around here! And looking forward to further observations from you...

[cmfireflies]

Welcome Chhana.

I always felt that the infection was born out of an attraction to the contract of innocence and darkness within Eli. I feel that her murderous nature makes Eli's love for Oskar more precious and makes Oskar's love for her more pure. I'm not one for romantic movies myself, because I always thought that most of those types of movies make love too simple. I mean, there would be something wrong with you if you didn't fall in love with the lead in a romantic movie, most of the time. But with Eli and Oskar, the film really showed that love has a price, making it feel more "real" and making it easier to care about both Eli and Oskar.

Of course, I can only speak for myself.

[intrige]

I was also 16 when I got infected. It's over three years ago, I am still infected. To me it has always been the lovestory.
Welcome to the forum!!!

[dongregg]

I thought to myself: was it the story? yes. was it the themes? yes. Characters? yes. Setting? yes. Atmosphere? yes. I cannot seem to pinpoint what part of LTROI infected me so I thought I would ask veterans.

Welcome, Chhana! I can't speak as one of the veterans because I got infected about the same time as you . I saw it on cable TV about six weeks ago. For me, it's not just that the things you mentioned are really good--story (check), themes (check), characters (check), etc.--rather, every element is also really moving. If I put on the OST, the music is so compelling that I can't concentrate on what I'm doing and I get choked up. I have Swedish, German, and English subtitle files, which I have copied to Word, and I spend part of each day learning the dialogue in Swedish (most of the time Oskar and Eli's lines). I've read tons of reviews and blogs about LTROI, and I was really happy to run across this forum. Like you, I was infected with one viewing. After I watched it, I set the DVR to record next time it played, but I didn't want to wait, so I bought it from Amazon so I could stream it to my computer anywhere. So what is it about the film that immediately infected you, me, and the others? You're 16 and I'm older than dirt, so age has nothing to do with it. One thing in the back of my mind is that maybe it's just an awfully good film and some folks are open to awfully good films. No, that can't be it. Sigh--whatever it is that hooked me, I am happy that it did.

[Darkness Incarnate]

Wow I was not expecting replies so quickly , and thanks for all the warm welcomes . Those were very helpful observations because at least now I have an idea of what it is, thanks.

Deleted. I somehow posted the same message twice.

whatever it is that hooked me, I am happy that it did.

I'm glad I can say the same Dongregg. I was shocked during the first few days and I lost sleep over it. The movie was being shown every night at the same time for another week and a half and I would stay up 'till 01:00 to watch it.

But with Eli and Oskar, the film really showed that love has a price, making it feel more "real" and making it easier to care about both Eli and Oskar.

You speak for both of us

And Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply
The fanfics here are amazing by the way.

[gattoparde59]

I haven't been able to find a post with this question so I'm sorry if this question has been raised before.
I found out about LTROI a month and a half ago, when my family and I were staying at a hotel in Malawi. I was just browsing the channels at night when I stumbled upon the film when Oskar first showed Eli his rubiks cube. After I watched it I found that I couldn't get it out of my head. I actually lost sleep over it and now that I have read the book, I cannot help but wonder, What infected us? I thought to myself: was it the story? yes. was it the themes? yes. Characters? yes. Setting? yes. Atmosphere? yes. I cannot seem to pinpoint what part of LTROI infected me so I thought I would ask veterans. Oh and sorry for the long intro.

Maybe, unlike most people, we identify with Oskar and Eli. We identify with their desires and their fears. The movie says something to us that way.

Hello, and thanks for posting.

[Darkness Incarnate]

Hello

Maybe, unlike most people, we identify with Oskar and Eli. We identify with their desires and their fears. The movie says something to us that way.

that would be a very good explanation for why some people are unable to empathise with the character as much while we are able to.
Thanks for answering