To Receive a Kiss

[a_contemplative_life]

I agree that Oskar's head was probably spinning. But how many of us have forgotten our first "real" kiss? And to have it occur with so much blood...I just don't buy the notion that he wouldn't have noticed.

BTW, is the idea that Oskar was in a state of shock detract from the idea that he showed unconditional acceptance of Eli by not withdrawing?

[DMt.]

No. What do you think?

[Sevil Ile]

BTW, is the idea that Oskar was in a state of shock detract from the idea that he showed unconditional acceptance of Eli by not withdrawing?

Yes, but only if he had truly been in a state of shock when the kiss took place, and he sure didn't look very shocked to me...

Frankly, I don't think he wanted the kiss to end: when Eli breaks lip-contact, poor Oskar leans his head forward a bit, as if thinking "Ahh, man.. is it over already? I could have gone on like this for the rest of the day..."

As for the question in the OP: If I had been Oskar, I would not have been me, and therefore I would not have behaved in a manner consistent with my own internal ideals and norms. However, since I don't mean to be intentionally difficult (read: a wise-ass), I will just answer in a frank manner without contemplating the philosophical implications of the assumption upon which my response is based: No. I would not have been uncomfortable; at least not to the extent that I would have shirked. Because at that point nothing else would have mattered besides Eli, and showing her(/him) that I want to be with her(/him). And at that point, I would have had a sufficient understanding of her(/his) nature to know that human blood is, to her(/him) the equivalent of what chocolate fudge cake is to me, and so I would have been totally cool with having a bit of it smeared on my lips.

[Ingenting-ing]

Yeah, ACL, that's quite a kiss. Glad you brought it up. The whole scene is riveting. The moments when Oskar is alone with Eli finishing-off Lacke -- it's easy to miss because of the intensity of what just happened -- but so well acted by Kåre. As one forum member put it, Oskar is just about to fall apart when Eli comes up behind him and holds him together (speak up if you want credit where due). OK, enough raving. To the kiss:

I think freaked out pretty much sums up what Oskar is at that moment. He just witnessed Eli's life being very much in danger, His own part in responding to that danger, the graphic result of Eli defending herself. All of this has left Oskar I think kind of frozen.

So while the kiss is very touching and heart felt on Eli's part I dont think Oskar even realizes the blood, he's lost in that 1000 yard stare of a person who has seen too much to fast for there mind to process it.

QFT. James nails it, and seems to me this alone accounts for the blood being insignificant. What's a little blood after all that?

Further, isn't blood kind of sexy -- The stuff of life...and death? Yes there was 10-15 years at the peak of the AIDS crisis when blood came to be thought of as a disease agent. This is still true, but much of the fear and revulsion has subsided. (Perhaps that explains the vampire genre roaring back. For a while it was angels, not vampires, right? But now blood is back -- red is the new black.) Is blood, even someone else's, really that much of a turn-off? Maybe for ACL, not for me. Maybe not for Oskar either. Guess it's very subjective. 'Course folks who are really turned-off by blood aren't going to like this movie.

But how many of us have forgotten our first "real" kiss? And to have it occur with so much blood...I just don't buy the notion that he wouldn't have noticed.

Ah, but that's the difference between first kiss and first love. By this point in the story Oskar is completely taken with Eli. I don't think it would have mattered if her mouth had dog crap on it. What's a little substance when you're talking about your soul-mate?

[gattoparde59]

I will make a confession here and say I was freaked out the first time I kissed a girl. That might explain my reaction to this particular scene.

It seemed to me that when they were done we see Oskar gingerly tasting the blood on his lips. Did any body see that ?

I feel like this scene sums up Oskar's love for Eli. He sees past the monster and the blood and recognizes that Eli is a good person.

[a_contemplative_life]

No. What do you think?

Maybe a little. You know, he's really not in a calm, cool, collected state of consciousness wherein one could just experience the whole thing and grasp, intellectually, its deeper meaning. Emotionally, though, I think it's all there for him. I think Oskar's a little hard to read in this scene, though, esp. after the kiss--no doubt the experience is tinged with the sad realization that Eli is going to leave. It's funny--right before Eli kisses him, Oskar glances down at Eli's mouth. I think maybe he's a bit concerned with what he sees. But I think it's fair to say that he's pretty much blown away by the entire experience, including the kiss.

[PeteMork]

No. What do you think?

Maybe a little. You know, he's really not in a calm, cool, collected state of consciousness wherein one could just experience the whole thing and grasp, intellectually, its deeper meaning. Emotionally, though, I think it's all there for him. I think Oskar's a little hard to read in this scene, though, esp. after the kiss--no doubt the experience is tinged with the sad realization that Eli is going to leave. It's funny--right before Eli kisses him, Oskar glances down at Eli's mouth. I think maybe he's a bit concerned with what he sees. But I think it's fair to say that he's pretty much blown away by the entire experience, including the kiss.

I also got the feeling that he looked down because he was a little embarassed by the kiss itself...in the best way possible. Kind of like, "She really kissed ME?"

[Casper]

I like to see Oskar's kiss as a foreshadowing. His love for Eli completely transcends any discomfort about having Lacke's blood smeared all over his mouth, which sort of represents Eli's victims in general. Death not only on Eli's hands (or lips in this case) but on Oskar's as well is not an issue, nor will it be in the future. I think this is also confirmation for Eli, that even when her facade stripped away, when she stands in front of Oskar as everything she is, she knows then that she can still be loved, though she is obviously nervous at the start, looking for facial expressions from Oskar. And to actually answer you question: I don't know if I would be freaked out. I would have to be in that moment. But I have a hunch that Oskar is a braver person than I.

[Nicro]

I like to see Oskar's kill as a foreshadowing. His love for Eli completely transcends any discomfort about having Lacke's blood smeared all over his mouth, which sort of represents Eli's victims in general. Death not only on Eli's hands (or lips in this case) but on Oskar's as well is not an issue, nor will it be in the future. I think this is also confirmation for Eli, that even when her facade stripped away, when she stands in front of Oskar as everything she is, she knows then that she can still be loved, though she is obviously nervous at the start, looking for facial expressions from Oskar. And to actually answer you question: I don't know if I would be freaked out. I would have to be in that moment. But I have a hunch that Oskar is a braver person than I.

I very much agree with this.

[a_contemplative_life]

I like to see Oskar's kill as a foreshadowing. His love for Eli completely transcends any discomfort about having Lacke's blood smeared all over his mouth, which sort of represents Eli's victims in general. Death not only on Eli's hands (or lips in this case) but on Oskar's as well is not an issue, nor will it be in the future. I think this is also confirmation for Eli, that even when her facade stripped away, when she stands in front of Oskar as everything she is, she knows then that she can still be loved, though she is obviously nervous at the start, looking for facial expressions from Oskar. And to actually answer you question: I don't know if I would be freaked out. I would have to be in that moment. But I have a hunch that Oskar is a braver person than I.

I very much agree with this.

Me too.