Bits better than the book

[ricc9]

Actually there is one I can think off. The whipping scene, the fact that the kid starts tearing up as he is whipping Oskar. I thought there was something incredibly human about it. Where as in the book at that point they're still presented as little monsters, I thought there was something really nice and human about the way that Andreas is tearing up as he is lashing into Oskar...yet the horror still comes from the fact that he continues to do it out of loyalty (or presumed loyalty) to Connie.

That is a really good point. I had never considered that Andreas goes along with the bullying, even though he knows it to be wrong. We can't let him off the hook entirely. Very realistic.

Actually, my take on this is somewhat different. A long time ago - perhaps at IMDB - someone pointed out how likely it would be the Eli would cry after every nomming. Eli obviously doesn't like the killing, and while the movie doesn't make clear exactly how long it has been going on, the two hundred years stated in the novel seems reasonable. So that would make two hundred years of killing once every week or so, and she cries after every one? That just doesn't ring true to me.

Yes, it is very unlikely that Eli would cry over each and every murder. She would have grown callous just to keep her sanity. On the other hand, there seems to be agreement among the infected that Eli has not met anyone like Oskar in over 200 years. (Not unless we accept the Matt Reeves version). By the time Eli Kills Jocke, Oskar has begun to have an influence on Eli, just as Eli has begun to have an influence on Oskar. I see one of the consequences of Eli's developing relationship with Oskar is that it forces her to confront her own inhumanity. When Eli shows remorse after killing Jocke, I think we are seeing her . . . uh. . . shell beginning to break down. I see her reaction as being something like, "this is awful, how can anyone like a thing like me?"

That is what the story is all about, isn't it? We come back to this again at the end when the bloody Eli, the same bloody Eli we saw with Jocke, plants a bloody kiss on Oskar after she has killed Lacke. We come back to at the pool, when bloody Eli gets a big smile from Oskar.

Very true. Do we know how many Hakan's Eli has had? She may have had to kill very few times. I guess we don't know. Yes Osker did start to brake her shell and she began to change.

[Kalmah]

Very true. Do we know how many Hakan's Eli has had? She may have had to kill very few times. I guess we don't know. Yes Osker did start to brake her shell and she began to change.

There's no exact number, I'm not even sure if the book mentions it tbh!

[Wolfchild]

Very true. Do we know how many Hakan's Eli has had? She may have had to kill very few times. I guess we don't know. Yes Osker did start to brake her shell and she began to change.

There's no exact number, I'm not even sure if the book mentions it tbh!

The novel just says that there were "others" (who were better at it than Håkan). JAL has said that he intended to imply that Eli's near experience in the basement with Håkan was not his first experience of that sort.

[a_contemplative_life]

Well, even though Eli is more than two hundred years old, she hates what she has to do, that's why she starts crying when she kills Jocke. And I don't think she cares much, she is quite old, is used to moving places a lot, and knew she would have to move sooner or later, with Hakan or not. I don't if killing is something that she would like to have skills in, even though she needs to do it, becoming better at it doesn't makes it easier for her in a way, it's not something to be proud of.

Actually, my take on this is somewhat different. A long time ago - perhaps at IMDB - someone pointed out how likely it would be the Eli would cry after every nomming. Eli obviously doesn't like the killing, and while the movie doesn't make clear exactly how long it has been going on, the two hundred years stated in the novel seems reasonable. So that would make two hundred years of killing once every week or so, and she cries after every one? That just doesn't ring true to me.

I think she cries over Jocke's corpse in remorse yes, but that is only part of it. I think she is also crying out of frustration and anger at Håkan. She puts up with all the unpleasantness of being with Håkan specifically to avoid killing, and yet here she was killing again. (Tomas said in an interview that in his view, Eli despises Håkan.) This is why she goes home and sends Håkan out to deal with the mess. The way Håkan is angry and yelling at her makes it clear it is not the expected pattern between them that she kills and then Håkan cleans up after her. I think that like any petulant 12 year old would, she went home and told Håkan, "You go clean it up." She made him pay for his failure to bring home the blood.

I agree with most of what is said here, but would add one other point: Eli knows Håkan is not the best killer who walked down the pike. She picks him up off a park bench, knows he's got these propensities to liking children in an improper way (witness her letting him keep his hand on her thigh at their first meeting), but chooses to take up with him. Why? Because he's the best she can find, and that ain't saying much. He's screwed up before (Norrkoping and Vaxjo, according to the novel), and apparently is going to continue to screw up. So I think maybe another thing going through Eli's mind as she sits on Jocke's back and puts her head down is, 'This sucks. Just really sucks--the whole thing.' Håkan, in short, is just another flawed part of a life that's one big pile of crap.

[jonjon_z]

My self, to bring the book into the movie only detracts from what is really being said and shown in in the movie. If you watch the movie with the book in the back of your mind, the movie will be lost. The movie is a love story while the book is something else. In realty, the movie centers on two 12 year old's learning about trust, caring and love. The movie isn't about some far away castle with some beast living there that brutalizes young boy's. Yes there is something inside Eli, but that isn't Eli. She is a 12 year old girl that has something 200 years old inside of her that she wants released. Does the book deal with Eli's emotions? The movie does. Does the book show her pain and torment? The movie does. That is why I choose to separate the two.

I doubt the book will change your opinions of the movie. In fact it will only give you a deeper perspective about the characters and amplify whatever feelings you have towards Oskar & Eli. I read the novel after seeing LTROI 5 times (at least) and do admit there are parts of the book you will find repulsive and have you squirming, especially the part where Eli gives Oskar a glimpse into her past. It is painfully brutal. The line where Eli says, "Why can't I have anything?" is heart wrenching. It's as if she is also asking, "Why me?" No matter how many times you've seen the movie, read the book and then see it again. When you see the depth of Eli's existence you'll better understand what Oskar really means to her and why she weeps over Jocke. It will also make the good parts much more rewarding.

[ricc9]

I have the book on order and should have it this week. I guess, to be honest, i'm afraid if I read the book it will diminish the perception I have of Eli. I don't want to lose this view I have for her. Sounds dumb, but, that is my fear.

[Kalmah]

Very true. Do we know how many Hakan's Eli has had? She may have had to kill very few times. I guess we don't know. Yes Osker did start to brake her shell and she began to change.

There's no exact number, I'm not even sure if the book mentions it tbh!

The novel just says that there were "others" (who were better at it than Håkan). JAL has said that he intended to imply that Eli's near experience in the basement with Håkan was not his first experience of that sort.

As I remembered it then, no re-read needed!

Oh yes, the basement... disturbing..

I have the book on order and should have it this week. I guess, to be honest, i'm afraid if I read the book it will diminish the perception I have of Eli. I don't want to lose this view I have for her. Sounds dumb, but, that is my fear.

Don't worry, I'm sure it wont change that much, if anything.

[rgh]

You've probably noticed in the discussions here that a lot of us have integrated the film and novel fairly well, even though they are not 100% identical. For me, having seen the film first, it was a great companion piece that filled in a lot of the gaps in the film. It has only deepened my love for the story.

Of course, I can still enjoy the film as a standalone piece, as it works so well on an emotional level. Even if you end up not liking the book so much, the film is strong enough that I'm sure it wouldn't be diminish for you.

[a_contemplative_life]

I have the book on order and should have it this week. I guess, to be honest, i'm afraid if I read the book it will diminish the perception I have of Eli. I don't want to lose this view I have for her. Sounds dumb, but, that is my fear.

I wouldn't worry. It'll just give you more to think about!

[rgh]

Besides, Lina leaves such a strong impression with her performance that I cannot imagine anything taking away the view you have of Eli.