An Interesting Observation By A Reviewer

[Wolfchild]

And as for romance, the closest thing resembling an open expression of love is the bloody kiss, and the smile that they share at the pool (and only one half of that shared smile is shown to us - okay, maybe 3/4). But that kiss and those smiles speak volumes in our imaginations.

I think that reviewer was definitely on to something.

I'd disagree with that one statement. I think their are so many little details running throughout the film that always nod at a sense of their romance. Whether it be the way Oskar straightens his hair before going out into the court yard in hope of meeting her, or the hug they share after she vomits up the food, the way she tenderly takes his hand whilst lying in bed, or the way that after Hakan douses his face with acid we see Eli alone in the room almost putting her hand to the wall to write a message only to stop yet almost still longing to talk to Oskar (which is actually one of my favorite little moments in that film to be honest, I love that quiet little moment)...and to follow that one up the way how Eli is at the pool watching over Oskar as in a sense almost once agan longing to be with him...I think there is more than just that bloody kiss that hints or show the romance between them. Its a part of what I like about it though, its so subtle and its almost all a build to that bloody kiss they share that and the final scene where they finally catch each others eyes in a very much shared moment

So I'd disagree with that one statement, the romance shows through more than just that bloody kiss...its minimal, subtle and doesn't hit you in the face with it, but I think its there in all those little moments and its always hinting at it and kind of building towards those moments in the conclusion. I think within those quiet little moments, you can see a sense of their romance and friendship blossoming and its all a build to that Bloody Kiss and the shared moment after the pool scene.

At least that's how I saw it...other than that one statement I would agree with everything else written there, but I think the romance is definetly there in all those little moments, its just not smashing you in the face with it.

Well, I did say "an open expression of love". Eli puts her hand on Oskar's, and he pulls his away. Eli takes Oskar's hand, but he is asleep. Oskar hugs Eli, but she does not reciprocate. I believe there are only two times when there is such an expression by one that is acknowledged and reciprocated by the other (not counting the deleted scenes). That's the genius of the film - we see all of the other things that you mentioned. We imagine that they must see them too, even if they are not willing to acknowledge it until the very end. When they do finally acknowledge it, it is very powerful because we have been waiting - and hoping - for it to happen.

[danielma]

And as for romance, the closest thing resembling an open expression of love is the bloody kiss, and the smile that they share at the pool (and only one half of that shared smile is shown to us - okay, maybe 3/4). But that kiss and those smiles speak volumes in our imaginations.

I think that reviewer was definitely on to something.

I'd disagree with that one statement. I think their are so many little details running throughout the film that always nod at a sense of their romance. Whether it be the way Oskar straightens his hair before going out into the court yard in hope of meeting her, or the hug they share after she vomits up the food, the way she tenderly takes his hand whilst lying in bed, or the way that after Hakan douses his face with acid we see Eli alone in the room almost putting her hand to the wall to write a message only to stop yet almost still longing to talk to Oskar (which is actually one of my favorite little moments in that film to be honest, I love that quiet little moment)...and to follow that one up the way how Eli is at the pool watching over Oskar as in a sense almost once agan longing to be with him...I think there is more than just that bloody kiss that hints or show the romance between them. Its a part of what I like about it though, its so subtle and its almost all a build to that bloody kiss they share that and the final scene where they finally catch each others eyes in a very much shared moment

So I'd disagree with that one statement, the romance shows through more than just that bloody kiss...its minimal, subtle and doesn't hit you in the face with it, but I think its there in all those little moments and its always hinting at it and kind of building towards those moments in the conclusion. I think within those quiet little moments, you can see a sense of their romance and friendship blossoming and its all a build to that Bloody Kiss and the shared moment after the pool scene.

At least that's how I saw it...other than that one statement I would agree with everything else written there, but I think the romance is definetly there in all those little moments, its just not smashing you in the face with it.

Well, I did say "an open expression of love". Eli puts her hand on Oskar's, and he pulls his away. Eli takes Oskar's hand, but he is asleep. Oskar hugs Eli, but she does not reciprocate. I believe there are only two times when there is such an expression by one that is acknowledged and reciprocated by the other (not counting the deleted scenes). That's the genius of the film - we see all of the other things that you mentioned. We imagine that they must see them too, even if they are not willing to acknowledge it until the very end. When they do finally acknowledge it, it is very powerful because we have been waiting - and hoping - for it to happen.

Actually that said it greatly

I think this is the simplest way to sum it up personally

Througout the film they never quite catch each others eyes untill the very end just after the pool scene. (If you notce througout the film they never quite meet each others glance, sure they see each other but usually one of them has the akward head looking down pose, they never quite meet each others eyes untill the very end in that shared moment). Correct me if I'm wrong but that's basically what you're saying correct?

So yeah I get what you mean then. The issue I took was more with the statement of its only shown through the bloody kiss, but after reading what you just wrote. Yeah I definetly get what you mean now.

[Jessy7217]

I tend to read a lot of reviews of this film, because every once in a while I find one that contains some interesting observation or or an enlightening thought. In this review I came across an excellent and well-written observation on the film:

The film is a masterpiece of modern horror and manages not to be everything it is. Although this sounds extremely illogical, Let The Right One In is a horror film without a great deal of horror, a coming-of-age movie in which the protagonists don't really come of age and a romance in which there isn't a great deal of romance.

I really wish I had said that.

This is probably very close to the heart of the genius of this film: while it doesn't show a lot of of horror, coming-of-age, or romance on the screen, it still manages to generate a lot of each one in our imaginations. Tomas described this as engaging the audience in a dialog by forcing them to imagine the things not shown. For the most part, Tomas had us create our own horror, had us make Oskar & Eli come of age, had us make them fall in love, in our own imaginations rather than in his film. The most horrific scene was the pool scene, which we watched but was never really shown on the screen. We are shown Oskar finally grabbing the reigns of his own life by leaving with Eli on the train, but it's just a train ride. What it really means for Oskar's life is left to our imaginations. And as for romance, the closest thing resembling an open expression of love is the bloody kiss, and the smile that they share at the pool (and only one half of that shared smile is shown to us - okay, maybe 3/4). But that kiss and those smiles speak volumes in our imaginations.

I think that reviewer was definitely on to something.

I read that not long ago. Can't recall if I came across it myself, or via this forum, though.