A bit of mystery about our infection

[the_value_of_x]

In a search for clues as to the source of the infection, I have a few questions for everyone:

• 1. If there were no film version of LTROI (or LMI), and all of us had read the novel, would we still be infected?

As I read the novel first, yes.

2. If there were no novel, but only the film LTROI, would we be infected?

Possibly, but maybe not as strongly infected.

3. If there were no novel, but only the film LMI, would we be infected?

I do not like this question because without the novel, LMI could not exist.

4. If Chloë Moretz (who, for the sake of argument, spoke Swedish) had been chosen by TA, rather than Lina Leandersson, and everything else was as close to the same as possible, would we still be infected?

Some of the "everything else" was specific to Lina, like Eli's physical appearance, but the answer is yes because I'd still be infected by the novel.

5. Similarly, If Kodi Smit-McPhee had been chosen over Kåre Hedebrant by TA, would we still be infected?

See question 4.

6. If Lina’s voice had been used rather than Elif Ceylan’s, would we still be infected? (I think we’ve heard enough of it in her interviews to get an idea of what it would have been like.)

As much as I like Ceylan's voice, I think so.

7. Or, did the path taken by JAL and TA, which led to this exact combination of novel and film (LTROI) just happen to create the ‘perfect storm?’ In other words, would any change at all to the actual events as they unfolded, have endangered your infection?[/list]

Both the novel and the film have flaws, naturally, but only if the changes were significant.

[PeteMork]

7. I have to say that without such a great forum to encourage my infection, it probably would have died off no matter how great the movie and book were. So if this site didn't exist, I think there'd be no infected.

Now this is an interesting idea, and actually produces a new question:

8. Would you still be infected if this forum didn't exist to keep re-infecting you on a daily basis?

I would like to think my answer would by 'yes,' but I'm really not sure. If I didn't have a place to air my FF and post my comments among folks who love LTROI as much as I do, I don't really know. Maybe it's all part of the 'perfect storm'

[the_value_of_x]

7. I have to say that without such a great forum to encourage my infection, it probably would have died off no matter how great the movie and book were. So if this site didn't exist, I think there'd be no infected.

Now this is an interesting idea, and actually produces a new question:

8. Would you still be infected if this forum didn't exist to keep re-infecting you on a daily basis?

I would like to think my answer would by 'yes,' but I'm really not sure. If I didn't have a place to air my FF and post my comments among folks who love LTROI as much as I do, I don't really know. Maybe it's all part of the 'perfect storm'

I would probably still be a fan of LTROI, but not infected. This forum makes me think more deeply about LTROI and the contributions from the Swedish-speakers are priceless.

[drakkar]

7. I have to say that without such a great forum to encourage my infection, it probably would have died off no matter how great the movie and book were. So if this site didn't exist, I think there'd be no infected.

Now this is an interesting idea, and actually produces a new question:

8. Would you still be infected if this forum didn't exist to keep re-infecting you on a daily basis?

I would like to think my answer would by 'yes,' but I'm really not sure. If I didn't have a place to air my FF and post my comments among folks who love LTROI as much as I do, I don't really know. Maybe it's all part of the 'perfect storm'

My answer is also a yes. I am still "infected" by Karl Ove Knausgård's A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven (novel released same year as LTROI) without ever attending any forum. Magical stories are still magical stories. The only difference is that my discussion partners are far less scattered around the globe (so I didn't need the English translation). ..and that there are no locations to visit..

[Clubmeister]

As for me, it was 95% film LTROI. And only as it is.
Because I saw LMI first and just liked it, no more (but I'm grateful to LMI, because when I watched it, I found that it is only remake ) Novel, as well, didn't add something to it.

7,8. Yes, I won't be tired to thank Wolfchild for this forum, it means very much to me. Because when you are crazy, it's so plesure to know, that you're not the only one
But eyes in silver frame on my wall would not let my infection to die, even without forum. Cause those were before I found forum

[Sumsi]

7. I have to say that without such a great forum to encourage my infection, it probably would have died off no matter how great the movie and book were. So if this site didn't exist, I think there'd be no infected.

Now this is an interesting idea, and actually produces a new question:

8. Would you still be infected if this forum didn't exist to keep re-infecting you on a daily basis?

I would like to think my answer would by 'yes,' but I'm really not sure. If I didn't have a place to air my FF and post my comments among folks who love LTROI as much as I do, I don't really know. Maybe it's all part of the 'perfect storm'

I enjoy LTROI like a good wine or a special piece of music, which means when I consume it every day in one way or another it wears out and looses its magic somehow.

When I saw it for the first time I felt instantly infected and I don't think I need to discuss the movie in a forum everday to keep me infected. In fact I fear it does the opposite.

[DMt.]

'Meister, show us these eyes of which you speak...?

[DMt.]

In a search for clues as to the source of the infection, I have a few questions for everyone:

1. If there were no film version of LTROI (or LMI), and all of us had read the novel, would we still be infected?

I suspect yes, but without film Eli, possibly less so.

2. If there were no novel, but only the film LTROI, would we be infected?

I think so, as people are with any truly great film.

3. If there were no novel, but only the film LMI, would we be infected?

Ummm...probably? Evidently some people seriously are, to LMI's credit.

4. If Chloë Moretz (who, for the sake of argument, spoke Swedish) had been chosen by TA, rather than Lina Leandersson, and everything else was as close to the same as possible, would we still be infected?

Uhh...yes...?

5. Similarly, If Kodi Smit-McPhee had been chosen over Kåre Hedebrant by TA, would we still be infected?

See above.

6. If Lina’s voice had been used rather than Elif Ceylan’s, would we still be infected? (I think we’ve heard enough of it in her interviews to get an idea of what it would have been like.)

I suspect so, yes.

7. Or, did the path taken by JAL and TA, which led to this exact combination of novel and film (LTROI) just happen to create the ‘perfect storm?’ In other words, would any change at all to the actual events as they unfolded, have endangered your infection?

Almost definitely possibly.

Mix and match as you please. Is there any combination of the questions above that tips the scales for your own infection? Inquiring minds want to know.

I suspect one of the critical reasons for the artistic success of LTROI was that the novel writer, with superb backup, wrote the screenplay. At the risk of wearisome repetition I'd add that it seems to me that the whole company, from runners to director, was no less [and possibly even more] madly in love with E&O as any of us, and the TLC quotient is correspondingly high in the result.

(And if you can think of any other qualifying questions, you can add those, too. Please!)

No...I think I'm done...

[DMt.]

Eli is the friend we wish we had but which most never will have. The realization of that is a lonesome one. So we must do the best with the friends we do have and nurture the possibility of finding and being to others, a friend like Eli. That is no simple task because the foundation of the love between Oskar and Eli is their own deep loneliness.

Do I hear a FanFic...?

But I wanted to bump this observation anyway because it's so close to the core of the whole thing.

[Wolfchild]

In a search for clues as to the source of the infection, I have a few questions for everyone:

1. If there were no film version of LTROI (or LMI), and all of us had read the novel, would we still be infected?

No.

2. If there were no novel, but only the film LTROI, would we be infected?

Definitely.

3. If there were no novel, but only the film LMI, would we be infected?

No.

4. If Chloë Moretz (who, for the sake of argument, spoke Swedish) had been chosen by TA, rather than Lina Leandersson, and everything else was as close to the same as possible, would we still be infected?

Yes. Chloë is a talented actor. The Eli character would have lost something, I think, but Chloë still would have made Eli mysterious, dangerous, and empathetic. The film itself would still have been spectacularly compelling.

5. Similarly, If Kodi Smit-McPhee had been chosen over Kåre Hedebrant by TA, would we still be infected?

Yes. Kodi is at least as talented an actor as Chloë. However, I think that Kåre really brought of things of his own to the Oskar character, and those would been missing with Kodi. Also, I think that while Kodi is definitely talented enough to handle the role of Oskar, he just wouldn't have looked right as Oskar. Even, so his Oskar would have still been compelling as he fell in love with Eli.

6. If Lina’s voice had been used rather than Elif Ceylan’s, would we still be infected? (I think we’ve heard enough of it in her interviews to get an idea of what it would have been like.)

Yes. It's more of a silent movie anyway.

7. Or, did the path taken by JAL and TA, which led to this exact combination of novel and film (LTROI) just happen to create the ‘perfect storm?’ In other words, would any change at all to the actual events as they unfolded, have endangered your infection?

I think that loss of any two elements could have caused me not get Infected. The loss of Lina & Kåre, the loss of Hoyte & Johan's score. The exceptions are Tomas and JAL. If JAL had not been there to craft the story, or if Tomas had been there to put it all together, this film would have lost something vital for me.

8. Would you still be infected if this forum didn't exist to keep re-infecting you on a daily basis?

Exploring my Infection would be a much more frustrating task. In fact, I think I would find the very experience of being Infected to be frustrating. OTOH, I'd have a lot more free time on my hands.