About Eli´s gender

[crazychristina]

Maybe, just maybe we are over thinking this dress thing.

Two things come to mind for me with the dress.

2) The dress is also there to show us that Eli is taking the place of Oskar's mother. Oskar even remarks on this in the scene where Eii warns him about the zombie Hakan. "You sound just like my Mom." Tomas Alfredson left this part in the movie, but as he tended to do, toned down the comic effect by toning down the dress.

I think you're on to something with this idea. The whole coming of age thing, with Oskar detaching himself from dependence on family (parents) and transferring his primary affection to someone outside the family. Establishing a more equal relationship (they help each other). I'm reminded also of a scene in the movie whan Oskar leaves his father's place, running down the road towards the car that has stopped for him. He's running from the dark towards the light, unknown though that is. From death to life.

[lombano]

Maybe, just maybe we are over thinking this dress thing.

Two things come to mind for me with the dress.

1) Its there for the comic effect. A little girl wearing an oversize white polka dot sun dress in november? I can't think of anything less practical or more conspicuous. Think of how it shows up in the scene with Tommy.

2) The dress is also there to show us that Eli is taking the place of Oskar's mother. Oskar even remarks on this in the scene where Eii warns him about the zombie Hakan. "You sound just like my Mom." Tomas Alfredson left this part in the movie, but as he tended to do, toned down the comic effect by toning down the dress.

1. But its conspicuousness goes against Eli's normal need for stealth, it's rather illogical from a pragmatic point of view.

2. True. They actually seem to take turns parenting one another.

[DMt.]

I'm reminded also of a scene in the movie whan Oskar leaves his father's place, running down the road towards the car that has stopped for him. He's running from the dark towards the light, unknown though that is. From death to life.

Oh yeah, good symbolism!

Filmed only by the car headlights, too, a great single-shot scene.

[thestich]

I'm reminded also of a scene in the movie whan Oskar leaves his father's place, running down the road towards the car that has stopped for him. He's running from the dark towards the light, unknown though that is. From death to life.

I liked this shot a lot also. Apparently this was tough to shoot due to the difference between the dark and the brightness of the car headlight.

Tough to get the camera to work correctly with getting over exposed. I think I heard TA say this.

[Wolfchild]

I'm reminded also of a scene in the movie whan Oskar leaves his father's place, running down the road towards the car that has stopped for him. He's running from the dark towards the light, unknown though that is. From death to life.

I liked this shot a lot also. Apparently this was tough to shoot due to the difference between the dark and the brightness of the car headlight.

Tough to get the camera to work correctly with getting over exposed. I think I heard TA say this.

Yes, whenever I watch this scene I am always impressed that Hoyte didn't just wind up with lens flares all over the place. I mean, how do you block out the motion of a cars headlights so carefully?

[SJackson57]

I have given some thought to Eli gender and Eli in general. Eli is blank slate in which everyone put his or her opinion about what Eli is. Eli is the ultimate Rorschach test. Some people see Eli as angel or castigate boy and many other things. We must remember we only see Eli about 90% through other people eyes.
Eli never gave us no hint which sex she prefer we know she like Oskar who is boy, but she never look at that other girl or boy and said that is nice.
I think Eli is vampire first and person second. Eli see people first as food and gender second. I believe Eli could have fallen in love with a girl, if they could have survive the interview process. Oskar almost did not survive his first date with Eli.
Eli know society see him as monster that need to be put down, but he will take love from boy or girl and society be damn.

[crazychristina]

Some interesting comments on gender towards the end.

[metoo]

- Do you see yourself more as a man or as a woman?
- You know, I like to keep my options open...

[Theinfected914]

I can't believe that I never commented on this. This is great--it's like a director's commentary for the book. Good stuff.

[Ash]

Now nine pages discussing Eli's gender, but I think the issue as seen from JAL's POV is that it is of no actual importance to the story.
The fact that Oskar was dealing with a vampire, makes gender pale into complete insignificance. Are we unable to see the wood for the trees?
Oskar's decision to run off with a mass-murdering vampire, and fall in love with it, transcends Eli's gender. If he couldn't care less, why should we?