Saturday night at Ebertfest: What kept you so long?
Ah, let the right one slip in
Slip in, slip in
And when at last it does
I’d say you were within your rights to bite
The right one and say, “What kept you so long?”
What kept you so long?” Oh...
Let the Right One In played to a sold-out audience at Saturday night’s 9:30 showing at Ebertfest. The above Morrissey lyrics from the song “Let the Right One Slip In” as being the inspiration for the film’s title were only some of the revelations revealed during the Q & A with the film’s producer Carl Molinder.
Let the Right One In is based on the 2004 novel of the same name by Swedish writer John Ajvide Lindqvist that details the unusual friendship between 12 year old Oskar, a lonely boy who is tormented by bullies at school and his new neighbor, the mysterious vampire child, Eli who she admits, has been 12 years old “for a long time.” While the novel details some darker themes, including pedophilia, as evidenced in Eli’s relationship with her caretaker and “blood-gatherer” Hakan, the 2008 Swedish film adaptation wisely does not introduce this element, preferring instead to turn its lens into the supernatural realm and the evolution of the friendship/love story between Oskar and Eli.
This is a horror film with subtlety, powerful imagery, and haunting beauty, somewhat of an anomaly in the overt “thrash and slash” violence characteristic of American cinema we as patrons are accustomed to and even the glamorized and stylized vampires of the enormously successful Twilight franchise.
Usually the horror movie genre treats its viewers to an “in your face” exploitation that horrifies one to look, yet cannot get one to quite have the willpower to turn away from the unfolding onscreen. But the powerful imagery in this film is quiet, yet enormously potent and readily invites viewer introspection. Whiteness and darkness is a motif, the contrast present even its young stars, as Oskar’s paleness is angelic contrasted with the sallow darkness and underlying evil that is Eli. Snow is also a powerful image interlaced throughout the piece. The film opens and closes with the silent reverie of falling snow and is usually seen gleaming on the face of Eli, as a baptism that cannot forgive her sins and is apparent in a particularly poignant shot of Eli and Oskar’s hands interlaced forging an unholy communion. Water as a catharsis, as a vehicle of renewal is symbolism at its most basic and classical. However, there is nothing cliché about the harrowing final “swimming pool” scene and while I don’t want to provide details that could ruin its impact, the rebirth that occurs here is transformation at its finest.
The Q &A that followed with the producer Carl Molinder revealed some interesting facts about the film. I felt that it could have illuminated even more if he had been allowed to freely speak-at times it seemed as though he was competing to express himself over the panel moderator, Michael Phillips’ commentary. However, among the fun facts include Molinder’s admission that cats are “difficult to direct”, especially in a particularly gripping attack scene, that Eli’s slurping of blood was achieved by mimicking the ingestion of yogurt (that’s enough to get me to think twice about my daily Yoplait), and that Eli’s voice in the movie is not that of the child actress, but of another woman so that her voice would have a more aged mature effect.
Let the Right One In is slated to be remade into an American version in the next year. Although one could easily shudder to think about how this could be mishandled, it was hopeful news to hear that Carl Molinder is involved with this project. As it is, the present Swedish film is a brand of intellectual horror that is not readily seen on screen and is more than welcome to come in anytime.
Let the Right One In is available on DVD at That's Rentertainment.
2 comments
Sadly, the DVD/Blu-Ray version out there now somehow has a different translation for the English subtitles, and the change is not good at all. Info here:
http://iconsoffright.com/news/2009/03/let_the_wrong_subtitles_in_to.html
Oh, and no way to exchange it or anything for people who unknowingly bought it:
http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/31006/magnet-let-right-subs-in
Add A Comment
Most Recent Arts Comments
Great job Suzanne. I really like how you sum up how George is a man stuck in his past and unwilling to explore his future. Thanks for your concise, thoughtful writing.
Just saw it tonight. Stunning. And I really enjoyed the new approach (pre-movie) at the Art—both on-screen and the in-person greeting.
Yay!
Can’t wait to see the show Jason! I’ve been waiting 2 years for this!
Oh Pat, We’ll have so much to discuss when you come see the show! To clarafiy for other readers. Civil Rights Project is on the top floor of the gallery. The lower floor, where the Kennedy piece is, is full of studies and other works that built up Civil Rights project.
I meant “. . . but I don’t think it makes the paintings I’m talking about any less interesting,“ obviously.
I’m looking forward to Jason’s show, though I’m going to be out of town for the opening. As for “not looking back,“ I’m going to invoke my right to disagree with the artist about his own work here: some of the work, particularly the Kennedys portrait (which,…
Coming Soon!
Why, for instance, if this is simply a world that doesn’t lie, is everyone constantly offering up unprompted truths? It’s funny that you should bring this up—I remember asking myself the same question about the Jim Carrey movie, “Liar Liar,“ in one of my early film-cynic moments.
Most Popular Arts Articles (60 days)
- A new era for the Art Theatre
- Invictus: A movie of meaning and majesty
- Best films of the decade (part one): 2000-2005
- Best films of the decade (part two): 2006-2009
- Indi Go gives local artists an outlet
- Two weeks’ worth of The Box: Princes, Enemies, and Basterds
- Riddles of time and tale
- Not exactly looking back: an interview with Jason Patterson
- What lies in the shadow of the statue?
- Not busy seeing Avatar a fifth time? Maybe you could rent these movies
Most Recent Comments
Its cool Annie, I know deep down you don’t give a shit, but yer being gracious. Check out the new Clipd Beaks, or Brian Jonestown Massacre, or Black Ryder from Australia. Yer right though, Chemicals is one song that acually says nothing. Usually, music that doesn’t really…
Who played?
I triuly enjoy being employed at the new Fat City!!!
I made these this weekend, albeit without the Pickling Spice. They are fucking tremendous. Wish I had local cukes, but alas they looked good and crispy at the store the other day. Here is more: they were ready within 12 hours. Now, I suspect they will…
No Iowa coverage?
For anyone interested in this stuff, there is aniInteresting show on tonight, Mon, Feb 8, on WILL TV, Blueprint America. about infrastructure, comparing Spanish gains in rail to American decline, with Detroit as, as usual, the basket case.
To the poster above - Your a Dead Soul. (giggle, giggle) No, really, think about it.
Jared played this on WEFT Sessions in September 2008, and in a year mistechtrophic songs I think this was my favorite of the year—this simple version of “I_Refute_Technology.mp3“ with acoustic guitar, electric bass, and two voices, it’s a good song. Musician, cover thyself!
Great job Suzanne. I really like how you sum up how George is a man stuck in his past and unwilling to explore his future. Thanks for your concise, thoughtful writing.
I’m proud to see you young girls getting out there! Wow - that takes motivation and courage. Glad to see you’re getting some press too.
Like Jason, I’ve been told by people who would know that HoG and Tang Dynasty are the most authentic Chinese food restaurants in town. One woman described HoG as “home cooking.“ Its tofu Pad Thai is perfection. Jason is also spot on that Mandarin Wok is…
Almost every issue this amendment attempts to address is merely a symptom of a much bigger, and unsurprisingly, much more difficult to solve problem: Voter apathy. You want to force term limits because voters generally don’t care enough to throw out bums who come off as…
After seeing the documentary “Food Inc.“ I may never eat meat that’s not local again, and am seriously considering the vegan option. Check it out.
I wouldn’t be too quick to discount this place simply based on its location or plastic eating utensils. I’ve been told that this place is one of the more authentic Chinese restaurants in town by a couple of different people who would know. That’s not to say…
It’s mediocre—not bad, but pretty much standard campus fare. “Plastic fork cuisine” is pretty apt. I have no experience searching for food from a vegan perspective, but for omnivores (or even vegetarians), I’d say there are at least five better Chinese and Thai places around town, maybe more.
First the Detroit Freep links. Keep term limits: http://www.freep.com/article/20100204/OPINION05/2040400/1068/OPINION/Keep-limits-Longer-time-in-office-wont-fix-state Repeal term limits: http://www.freep.com/article/20100204/OPINION05/2040403/1068/OPINION/Repeal-limits-Experience-is-not-an-evil-thing Second. I don’t have a real strong opinion on term limits, but generally think they do more harm than good. However, I have no proof of that. But, my experience, from working in government…
When I was an undergrad, I too occasionally had enough money for a cheap greasy spoon (chopstick) meal. On those occasions, I felt mildly celebratory about not boiling or microwaving my own dinner. It looks like this meal came in Styrofoam, with a plastic fork. There are…
As a relatively recent convert, I very much look forward to dining at this restaurant, and to the rest of your series! An excellent, marvelous idea…thank you!
Just saw it tonight. Stunning. And I really enjoyed the new approach (pre-movie) at the Art—both on-screen and the in-person greeting.
Thanks for the input everyone. Stuart, I could use some help. Your entire comment seems supportive except for the last, declarative sentence. You ask very cogent, thought-provoking questions which are appreciated and further the discussion. I myself don’t know how things will shake out once it is…
Most Popular Articles (14 days)
- Illini take Sparty; Dmac claims: “I’ll be back”
- Lift the gavel on DUI
- Roller derby in C-U?!
- Jan. 30: Official C-U Record Release Day
- Xinh Xinh celebrates one year today
- A look into online dating: Part 2
- Confounding name, delicious food
- Next best thing to the Farmer’s Market
- Week One: Be here now.
- Album review: WFFM's The House You're Living In
Recent Searches
- sean bloomfield (1 Results)
- 1365 (2 Results)
- lost (432 Results)
- honorable mention (17 Results)
- Illini Medical Screening Society (1 Results)
- valentines day (7 Results)
- boneyard pottery (2 Results)
- duke uke (79 Results)
- "adam fein" (12 Results)
- adam fein (15 Results)
- lost c-u (45 Results)
- adam fein (15 Results)
- 1162 (3 Results)
- 1162 (3 Results)
- hoyle (5 Results)
- lebowski (7 Results)
- lebowski fest (5 Results)
- news-gazette (192 Results)
- Tyson Markley (3 Results)
- joel gillespie (78 Results)
Facebook
Twitter
Full Site
To the poster above - Your a Dead Soul. (giggle, giggle) No, really, think about it.