Eli, on the Verge of Tears?

[Ingenting-ing]

Sometimes I think folks who adhere to the "evil Eli" view might not have been watching that carefully.

QFT. Anybody who finds nothing but manipulation in this scene either has no eyes, or no heart.

[rgh]

It's 55.01 on the Swedish DVD.
The crying is seen in Eli's neck movements, like she's choking back a sob.

That is exactly how I have interpreted this scene. After 200+ years of loneliness and sorrow she thinks she may have found someone who accepts, and even loves, her.
You can also see it in her face & eyes as she chokes back the sob.

[PeteMork]

One of the things that I think LTROI does very well is juxtapose horror with beauty--put them side by side, mix them up, and thereby make your emotions the proverbial mouse being toyed with by a cat. This is one of those scenes that does this very well. Here we have Eli, having just flown from the hospital were she has killed Hakan, in Oskar's bed with Hakan's blood still fresh around her mouth. All Oskar had to do was turn over, and there would probably have been some very uncomfortable questions. But he doesn't; and so we have this very tender and innocent exchange.

I hadn't thought of it in quite this way before, but you're absolutely right. The contrast really makes the difference; and the possibility that he could turn around at any second, make it all the more fragile.

[a_contemplative_life]

I hope you are not including me in the "evil Eli" crowd.
I suggested she was not beyond manipulation, which we clearly saw in her relationship with Hakan.
But I would never suggest she was evil in any way. Put that to bed right now.

No, I was not casting aspersions on any particular person.

If there was any distillation of "the essence" into small things, we can see it portrayed in the final pool scene.
All we see of Eli is her eyes and the top of her nose. But from that extreme close-up we know she smiles, and all is well in the world from that slight movement of a few minute muscles.
All the Hollywood shoot-outs and explosions and CG and over-acting, are put to absolute shame by a cinematographer and director who really knows their &^$%.
It's impossible to go back to Hollywood after seeing LTROI. All I do is laugh.

Agreed. But I would hasten to add that LTROI is studded with these sorts of things.

[cmfireflies]

Sometimes I think folks who adhere to the "evil Eli" view might not have been watching that carefully.

Speaking for only myself, I'd have to say that I sometimes push the "evil Eli" interpretation (although never in regards to her actions towards Oskar) because it's impossible for a vampire to survive if she is "too good." And I really hope that her finding Oskar doesn't lead to her death because that would be terrible.

[metoo]

... And I really hope that her finding Oskar doesn't lead to her death because that would be terrible.

Given LTODD, we can safely assume this is not so...

[TigerEyes]

... And I really hope that her finding Oskar doesn't lead to her death because that would be terrible.

Given LTODD, we can safely assume this is not so...

same here. I really like the idea of them both being together. I'm such a sap.

[Casper]

I think it's the beginning of her love for him, and yes, she's probably close to tears as she runs through the gamut of emotions as she realizes it. After all, it's been 200 years since anyone's liked her. This scene, at least for me, completely puts to rest the idea that an Evil Eli is manupulating Oskar. Who's she acting for?

I interpreted the scene in much the same way. It is made very clear how lonely Eli is, from the scene when we first see the Rubik's Cube among many others. I can only begin to comprehend the hopelessness she feels, and the shock of somebody actually reaching out to her. So I think it's completely foreign, and very overwhelming when Oskar suddenly makes it clear that he wants her as a completely platonic companion, and that he really loves her for who she is, not caring at all if she is a boy or girl, or what she thinks of herself. That's a huge barrier to break down, letting down your guard enough to accept that sort of love. Sure, it's a little reckless, agreeing to go steady with him, knowing that things may not end well, and maybe she was afraid at the same moment, knowing that things would probably fall apart in the near future, knowing that she would probably get hurt because of what she is, that she would eventually lose Oskar, and risk hurting Oskar in return. It really would be a very intense, bitter sweet moment when you consider the uncertainty she's dealing with, not knowing what will become of it.

[Ingenting-ing]

The crying is seen in Eli's neck movements, like she's choking back a sob...And I have to agree for an inexperienced actor to nail every scene like Lina did, is astounding.
Perhaps Alfredson played a part in that.

I agree this is what makes Lina's performance so emotionally powerful. Eyes and mouth can be manipulated to show emotion. But the way you see it in her neck muscles, and also her nostrils flaring a little before -- this conveys *deep* emotion. I'm still wondering how any actor, much less a young, inexperienced one, can be so spot-on in a performance.

One thing that's occurred to me is at that age maybe Lina was truly grossed-out and upset to be in a bed with a boy partially naked. Maybe she almost threw up. I don't really think that's it, but I'm struggling to understand how such an amazingly real-feeling performance came about.

I think it's also worth mentioning the contrast between Eli and Oskar's emotions in this scene (similar to the candy scene). The two kids can't see each others' faces. When Eli says yes to going steady, Oskar is just a happy little kid. Completely relaxed, falls asleep with a smile. In Eli so much emotion comes up. She's overwhelmed. There's happiness there, but so bittersweet as 200 years of loneliness comes at her all at once. Oskar's clear blue joy really lets us see Eli's emotional storm.

This scene is so wonderful it deserves a second-by-second analysis -- something on my to-do list, but like many fine things will leave it for another day.

[babyboi102909]

I hadn't noticed that. I'm gonna check it out now.