Can Oskar Swim?

[skippyspeaks]

Hi Im new here, I adore this film. I haven't read the book or seen LMI. I just wonder, from the film are we supposed to know that Oskar cannot swim? I guess he can't and thats why he is being taught one-on-one. Can he swim in the novel? I'm writing an essay on the sound in the pool scene, so it's also useful for that. Thanks if you've got any answers or thoughts. -skippy

[intrige]

I think it's just Kåre who aint that good to swim.

[drakkar]

...and I think it is water aerobics, that he is working out when Eli is looking in to him, and later just before Eli at last pays the poolhouse a visit.

[Ash]

Welcome skippyspeaks.
It's evident that Oskar can at least dog-paddle.
But he does have big problem with water going in his mouth when he swims, (and out of his nose in other scenes. )

[sauvin]

Welcome skippyspeaks.
It's evident that Oskar can at least dog-paddle.
But he does have big problem with water going in his mouth when he swims, (and out of his nose in other scenes. )

Yea, that's been noted in other places around in the forum. Oskar taking water into his mouth and splutting it back out is just a typical kid thing. I think I remember doing something similar when I was a kid, too, so now I can be pretty confident it isn't just a French kid thing, or an American kid thing. Looks like it could be a Swedish kid thing, too.

I don't remember anything from the novel or either movie to suggest that Oskar can or can't swim. It makes sense, though, that water aerobics would be a part of strength training: when you're lifting weights, you're usually just exercising particular sets of muscles, but when you're pushing yourself through the water, you're exercising just about everything on your body that can move at all. What fun is it to have arm muscles that can lift a fifty kilos if you have a back that can't handle more than five?

[DarkGuyver]

...and I think it is water aerobics, that he is working out when Eli is looking in to him, and later just before Eli at last pays the poolhouse a visit.

Yeah, Oskar was doing water aerobics before Jonny, Jimmy and their friends bust into the pool. I think Oskar can swim but not very well.

[Ash]

I'm wondering.........could Eli swim?
Many people from her time never learnt to swim, or had reason to do so.
In fact, it seems that many sailors from that period couldn't either, when they would have a very good reason to learn.

[drakkar]

Oh, forgot! Welcome skippyspeaks!

About swimming: I believe most Swedish kids learn/t to swim quite early. I learnt to swim in school, in third grade, and I believe Sweden was something similar.

[sauvin]

Oh, forgot! Welcome skippyspeaks!

About swimming: I believe most Swedish kids learn/t to swim quite early. I learnt to swim in school, in third grade, and I believe Sweden was something similar.

Was this true in Elias' time, though?

[drakkar]

I doubt it very much. In Norway not even fishermen normally could swim until the 1900s.