A bit of mystery about our infection

[MSenseMovies]

I think its safe to say that most of the infected feel some sort of connection with the characters even if its very indirect. However I have talked to a couple fellow people who are infected and they told me they really dont feel connected with the characters but for some strange reason the movie gets inside them more than any movie they have ever seen. It didnt make any sense to me at first but then it hit me. I think most people share one common thing, and that is the need to feel loved. And not just the kind of love that gets thrown around so often and carelessely in the world, but the real tender, undconditional love that we have seen through this story. And that to me is where this infection comes in. The hope that someday, if not already, we can find a love as true as Eli and Oskar's and escape from the fakeness of the people who surround us.

That's what I think aswell. And those who not get "infected" by this film either has it or doesn't know they want it, or they don't want it.

[Luftwaffles]

I couldn't tell you. The characters just pierced my heart, and that was that. I couldn't explain it. But I love the author, book, movie, actors, everything lol.

I think it was something to do with it being a "horror" film, but in the end, you are so engrossed with sympathy, it transforms it into something beautiful. And you completely overlook the gore and things and just kinda see it as instrumental (they just need to do it) and realize its this love story, and you just get the feeling somewhere deep in your heart that you hope that Eli and Oskar are happy off somewhere together forever.

[Ingenting-ing]

Damn! How did I miss this thread the first time? Did I have a life, briefly, last July? No...impossible. Mysterious. Well, thanks Cuch, for necroing this one in the great thread-necro tradition of the infected (and thanks, Pete, for hijacking with these great questions)...

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?

Hmmm. Boy, aside from the extreme low probability of encountering the novel without the movie, it would sure be a different infection. Darker, quieter, more introverted. Literary. An infection administered slowly over many days rather than the quick jolt from the movie.

I have to admit my first read of the novel wasn't a very satisfying experience. It was too soon after the movie, I was too much under its spell. So reading the novel...it was like bad teen sex. Way too excited and in a hurry, just rushing from familiar scene to familiar scene wanting to know how JAL wrote it. Second read is going very slowly, and much, much better. Lost those awkward teenage blues.

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

Absolutely. I'd characterize my infection as 90% movie, 10% novel, mostly by having encountered the movie first.

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

Sorry LMI fans. I don't think so.

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?

Good one. Lina was and is unique. Nobody can touch her as Eli. Chloë is also a fine actor. I'm inclined to think that with the right direction she could have been a decent Eli (i.e. using her voice, not just droning in a depressed monotone). Maybe even a little playfulness to the character a la hit-girl. Sure. Anything's possible. I say yes.

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

This is a little tougher, and gets at my main gripe with LMI: To me Kåre and Lina read exactly twelve -- mirror image equals. Chloë and Kodi read as 14 and 10 (respectively). The relationship feels not only manipulative, but like an older kid manipulating a younger one. I haven't seen Kodi in a role where he ever picks himself up. Always so downtrodden, psychologically helpless. So I got to say no on this one. I'm not sure, but I don't think Kodi could make it work.

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.)

Another good one. I'm always glad to be reminded that Eli isn't just Lina. Elif, who are you? The infected are dying to know! OK, tough call without being able to hear Lina's voice in context, but I'm going to say yes. Unless she sounded like Chloë, I don't think Lina's younger voice would have disinfected the movie.

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]

No. The virulence was strong enough in each work to be effective independent of the other.

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

Not likely. The infection without a community would have eventually turned into a bittersweet ache, with no path to act on it. Thus my eternal gratitude to the members and creators. This community is a lifesaver.

9. Would you be as infected by the LTROI film without it's score. Would the LTROI film carry the same emotional impact without it's mesmerizing and haunting musical score?

I think yes, enough to infect, because there was enough visual beauty (thanks Hoyte!) to let the infection slip in. But it sure wouldn't have been as nice. LTROI is the complete package. In general, the world is a vaguely dissatisfying place. But as lucky infected, we have received a kind of perfection in LTROI.

[[Eden]]

I'm a BDD sufferer, and I think it might be my main link to Eli.
It is someway a paradox, because she doesn't really care about what the others think of her (except Oskar), but she gets hurted by sun and I'm scared of daylight, she avoid people and so do I, she goes outdoor just at night and wants to stay alone anyway and so do I.

So I guess my mind (heart?) has welcomed the infection for these reasons

[Luftwaffles]

I got no idea, but LTROI makes me giddy like a schoolgirl watching Twilight.

Team Eli 4 lyfe, yo.

[lombano]

I don't know if this has happened to others, but my infection has changed the way I relate to films. I never used to be interested in anything about the film other than the finished product in and of itself - never before did I take an interest in things like backstories, deleted scenes, etc or more technical but artistically important details like use depth of field, lighting, etc. This even though I'm familiar, mostly via photography (once upon a time I learned the ropes of b&w analogue photoraphy), with cinematically important concepts such as the law of thirds and other general guidelines on composition, and even though I was introduced to arthouse cinema in early adolescence. But after LTROI I've definitely developed an interest in this sort of thing regarding films I like.

[Cuchullain]

I don't know if this has happened to others, but my infection has changed the way I relate to films. I never used to be interested in anything about the film other than the finished product in and of itself - never before did I take an interest in things like backstories, deleted scenes, etc or more technical but artistically important details like use depth of field, lighting, etc. This even though I'm familiar, mostly via photography (once upon a time I learned the ropes of b&w analogue photoraphy), with cinematically important concepts such as the law of thirds and other general guidelines on composition, and even though I was introduced to arthouse cinema in early adolescence. But after LTROI I've definitely developed an interest in this sort of thing regarding films I like.

I think that I first noticed the more technical side to films when I got in to the work of Miike Takashi but LTROI does bring these aspects to light when you watch it. It is hard not to notice the technical work on the film. I still don't know the terms they use though.

[Frogster]

1) I haven't read the novel yet. So reading the novel isn't a part of me being infected

2) Yes

3) Yes. Definitely. I love both films but LMI is my favorite.

4) Hmm, probably considering how much I like LMI.

5) Same for Chloe

6) Yes. I don't think the voice would have had an impact on me.

7) Well considering how much I love LMI (and conversely many infected dislike it) to me I'm not sure how much ground the "perfect storm" or "beating heart" analogy holds. I believe it's more the general combination of themes and the fact that the movie(s) are exceptionally well made.

8) I was infected for about a week before looking around online and coming across this site. I think I would still be infected without this site, it would just be a less pleasant experience.

9) I love the score of LMI and barely remember the LTROI score. So I don't think it's particularly important.

[ofelia]

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?

Hmmm. Boy, aside from the extreme low probability of encountering the novel without the movie, it would sure be a different infection. Darker, quieter, more introverted. Literary. An infection administered slowly over many days rather than the quick jolt from the movie.

This is so interesting. I am in the minority here I think, having seen neither of the films first. And I do think it was kind of a... creeping... infection for me. Like I read the book in a rush because it was so intense, and then it floated around in my head for a while until I had to read it again. This is the same way that Johan Söderqvist's score infected me: I listened to it before watching the film, and didn't think much of at it first, but then I went back to it, and had to keep going and going until I had it memorized. I really have no idea if the film would have struck me if I hadn't read the book first. Probably not, actually. It was so quietly done that I don't think I would have understood the motives behind all the characters' actions. Getting into Oskar's head (all of the characters really, but Oskar above all) in the book made everything so much clearer. Of course the ambiguity is nice, but I think if I'd just seen the film I would probably have thought huh, that was weird...

[lombano]

I don't know if this has happened to others, but my infection has changed the way I relate to films. I never used to be interested in anything about the film other than the finished product in and of itself - never before did I take an interest in things like backstories, deleted scenes, etc or more technical but artistically important details like use depth of field, lighting, etc. This even though I'm familiar, mostly via photography (once upon a time I learned the ropes of b&w analogue photoraphy), with cinematically important concepts such as the law of thirds and other general guidelines on composition, and even though I was introduced to arthouse cinema in early adolescence. But after LTROI I've definitely developed an interest in this sort of thing regarding films I like.

I think that I first noticed the more technical side to films when I got in to the work of Miike Takashi but LTROI does bring these aspects to light when you watch it. It is hard not to notice the technical work on the film.

Yes, but it hasn't been just with LTROI but with other films, not all on the more technical aspects, but I've defintiely taken a greater interest in particular in things like backstories, how actors and others involved view their character, etc. I've also gotten a greater interest in actually watching films. Before LTROI, for example, I never looked at trailers, I watched films based on synopses and recommendations, but never bothered with trailers. So it's definitely changed the way I relate to films.