Movie Eli ambiguity

[metoo]

You need to stop the movie to actually see what the scene shows.

This is not true. On my first viewing, I wondered why Eli would have a strange mark on the front of her pubis and no sign of a labia. I wasn't even watching it in a cinema - it was on a 48" television screen. I didn't put it together then that Eli could have been a boy, but I have seen people claim that they realized immediately that Eli was a boy when seeing that scene.

Well, I should of course not dispute these people's claims. And I cannot deny that there are hints in the movie that Eli might be a boy - at least I would agree that there are hints intended to suggest that possibility. After all, both JAL (the screenplay writer) and TA (the director) knew that Eli "really" is a boy. Still, it seems to me that most people don't interpret those hints this way. The overwhelming majority of the members of this forum, for instance, use female pronouns for Eli. Apparently the movie made such a strong impression of Eli as female that they cannot change their minds, even though most of them have read the novel and therefore should "know better".

[Ash]

This thing with using a female to play the part is that there far more subtle female nuances the audience picks up on that Lina displays, than suggested male ones. Little twirls, how she moves, how she runs in the snow etc.
If JAL and TA really wanted to suggest otherwise they would have cast a feminine looking boy in the role, pretending to be a girl. But I'm glad they didn't or otherwise we wouldn't have Lina's astonishing performance.

[sauvin]

This thing with using a female to play the part is that there far more subtle female nuances the audience picks up on that Lina displays, than suggested male ones. Little twirls, how she moves, how she runs in the snow etc.

That was my biggest clue about the actor's gender long before I understood the actor's name was Lina.

[metoo]

This thing with using a female to play the part is that there far more subtle female nuances the audience picks up on that Lina displays, than suggested male ones. Little twirls, how she moves, how she runs in the snow etc.

That was my biggest clue about the actor's gender long before I understood the actor's name was Lina.

Well, I'm not convinced that the reason that you notice these "girlisms" isn't because you expect them, being led to think that Eli is a girl by his/her appearance. Maybe you would have been totally fooled by an androgynous boy presented the same way?"

If JAL and TA really wanted to suggest otherwise they would have cast a feminine looking boy in the role, pretending to be a girl.

Apparently, that was what JAL wanted. And I think I've heard TA saying that the call for the role of Eli was for both girls and boys. Anyway, he has said that he chose Kåre and Lina as a couple, because what was most important was that the actors complemented each other.

But I'm glad they didn't or otherwise we wouldn't have Lina's astonishing performance.

Well, I don't mind, either.

[jetboy]

It would be tough to cast a boy to play a girl I would think. That boy would have to be extremely mature for his age. And then the actor playing Oskar would have to be equally as mature.

[metoo]

It would be tough to cast a boy to play a girl I would think.

Well, since Eli "really is a boy", it wouldn't be necessary to cast a boy to play a girl. Only to play a boy who is mistaken for being a girl.

That boy would have to be extremely mature for his age. And then the actor playing Oskar would have to be equally as mature.

I don't think so. Not more that what was already required of Kåre and Lina, really.

[Ash]

Going out on a limb here, but perhaps the Eli reveal scene was intended to tie up with the "be me a little" scene (which was not filmed) and fill in for Oskar what was not revealed at the end of the basement flash-back scene. Given that the film's scenes were not filmed sequentially and TA/JAL intended to include a graphic Eli abuse scene during the filming.
So it fills in/confirms for Oskar that Eli is definitely a boy, neutered by the Lord, and explains the end of the of the "be me a little" scene that Eli cut short to Oskar.
As the reveal segment still has validity in the context of the edited film they decided to leave it intact. More as a point of ambiguity than confirmation as to Eli's real gender, and what Eli did not reveal to Oskar in the basement scene.
It was the last piece of the puzzle for Oskar, and it didn't make any difference in Oskar's love for eli.

[Cthulhuthanos]

There is a scene in the movie that only last for a brief second. During the scene when Eli is telling Oskar to "be me", there is a shot of Eli. This shot of her looks terribly old, almost like an extremely old woman. Did anyone else notice this at all? I wonder if they had a different actress play that part. It was obviously meant to convey that she was really old, however, I'm wondering if that's something that Oskar's imagination conjured to fill in the idea for how old she was.

[ltroifanatic]

There are lots of little things in the movie that happen quickly and then leave you wondering "did I see that? " .. This forum has pointed out alot of things that I missed. Makes you realise how beautifully this movie has been put together. I'm pretty sure that I read somewhere that Lina had to put on tons of make-up for some scenes.I think it's her in the scene you mentioned . Although there was another actress for the "old" voice of Eli so I may be wrong.I must learn Swedish lol as I feel I'm missing a lot of subtle things while I read the English subtitles.

[dongregg]

There are lots of little things in the movie that happen quickly and then leave you wondering "did I see that? " .. This forum has pointed out alot of things that I missed. Makes you realise how beautifully this movie has been put together. I'm pretty sure that I read somewhere that Lina had to put on tons of make-up for some scenes.I think it's her in the scene you mentioned . Although there was another actress for the "old" voice of Eli so I may be wrong.I must learn Swedish lol as I feel I'm missing a lot of subtle things while I read the English subtitles.

Oh, right. I watch it with the sound off sometimes (and ignore the subtitles). You will be really surprised at what you see! I sometimes also stream it to my computer and close the screen so I only have the sound. Sure are a lot of dogs in Blackeberg! And cars. And footsteps crunching in the snow. Plus, the music.

On a truly trivial note, try to count the number of times that red or red-orange objects appear.