Our first ever Movie Pick of the Week is Ari Aster’s Midsommar. To commemorate the A24 film’s official dvd and digital release.
Midsommar immediately opens with heartbreaking devastation; psychology student Dani Ardor (Florence Pugh) receives an alarming e-mail from her sister Terri which sends her into an anxious tailspin.
A worrying Dani repeatedly calls her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) for some consolating comfort but, in return, is greeted with reluctance and annoyance. Early on, we see signs of Dani’s mental health battle. Hiding her crippling anxiety and brushing it off to not disturb her boyfriend, instead of supporting Dani, treats her like a burden, leaving her to feel alienated. Regrettably, already feeling at her lowest, Dani then receives the devastating news that sends Dani into a complete depressive spiral, yet musters up the courage to join Christian at a party.
Despite Dani being physically present, her mind’s miles away. This disassociation happens a lot with mental health. Subsequently, this is how Dani learns of Christians’ plans for a guys trip to Sweden. Christian’s fellow graduate anthropology students Ph.D. rival Josh (William Jackson Harper) and flippant Mark (Will Poulter) are all invited by Swedish classmate Pelle (Vilhelm Blomgren) for a midsummer festival.
Except not only did Christian not speak to Dani about going, but he also didn’t mention it at all. Blindsiding Dani, Christian manipulates the situation to surprise her with some getaway for their upcoming anniversary. Much to Christian’s friends’ dismay.
After leaving dreary weather to fly internationally to sunshine-filled Sweden, the group then makes the drive for Hårga in Hälsingland, where they’re greeted by Pelle’s fellow members and other invitees indulge in taking mushrooms while watching the midnight sun. While the group begins to trip, Dani’s hallucinations are so overwhelming that they induce an anxiety attack. However, Dani suppresses her feelings and hides her emotions from the group, especially from Christian.
Meanwhile, six hours after their psychedelic trip, the group arrives at the isolated grounds illustrated by Pelle’s description.
In turn, because of hallucinogens, the line between what’s mythical and psychological gets blurred. Yet viewers are now aware that we’re invited into a pagan cult.
Arriving at the festival somehow calms Dani down; she becomes almost enchanted with the way of life and the close tightknit familial feeling.
As the movie progresses, we see Dani’s feelings of isolation melt away. Dani learns more about the ancestral traditions of the Hårga while feeling welcomed in by them. Until a ritualistic act of preplanned senicide that jolts her back into mourning.
Following this, Pelle sees Dani’s reaction and takes off after her. Visibly upset and in the midst of packing up her belongings, Pelle sincerely apologizes for witnessing such an act.
Pelle’s comfort allows Dani to feel her actual feelings and realize that she finds comfort in someone who isn’t Christian. This allows Aster to reduce the importance of Dani and Christian’s connection.
The cracks are showing and are now getting to the foundation.
Significantly evident when Pelle asks, “Dani, do you feel held by him? Does he feel like home to you?.” Dani’s epiphany finally clues into Christian’s emotional detachment to her and no longer feels tethered to him, causing a vulnerability at the hands of the pagan cult.
The juxtaposition of the Scandinavian sunlight and lush greenery set against the contrast of surrounding folk horror is superb.
The Hårga values togetherness, specifically in moments of darkness and anguish. A discovery to Dani, who only knew how to internalize her emotions, often caused her to suffer alone. Now there’s a group of individuals who absorb and validate her feelings.
Dani’s fully embraced and accepts the traditional values of the Hårga allows her to feel seen and felt by a family she’s always wanted.
