“Let the Right One In” Love and blood are the same color - a fantasy love story filled with serenity and cruelty *Spoiler alert

The “window” that divides love, the “blood” that connects feelings

Lastly, I would like to consider two elements that make ``Let the Right One In'' all the more heartbreaking. These are ``windows'' and ``blood,'' which I briefly touched on in the previous sections.

First, let's talk about "windows". The original title of this work is "Låt den rätte komma in". The English title is ``Let the Right One In.'' This is a quote from the song `` Let the Right One Slip In '' by Morrissey, a musician whom the original author Jon Ivide Lindqvist admires. Lindqvist says: "In order to approach a person and suck their blood, a vampire must first be invited."

What can be inferred from this is that this work is a story of "acceptance". It is the act of ``letting someone in'', that is, giving ``permission'' to enter one's private space, and in the relationship between Oscar and Eli, it also has the meaning of creating a ``place''.

In order to express this theme, this work uses a device called a "window." As mentioned in the explanation of the opening scene, windows are what separate the ``safe inside of the house'' and the ``dangerous outside world,'' they are what separates humans and vampires, and they can also be what separates the fate of parent and child. Become. The Morse code that appears in the play is a means of romantic love communication between two people, but it is also an item that directly indicates the divided and pessimistic situation. However, the act of ``opening the window'' will emotionally tug at the heartstrings of the viewer.

In ``Let the Right One In,'' the situations they find themselves in are conveyed through ``windows,'' and when these windows are removed, ``progress'' and ``liberation'' are created.

The best example is the scene where Eli visits Oscar's house. She begs Oscar to "tell her I can come in," and literally cries tears of blood as he treats her roughly. This is a scene that clearly conveys how important and longing it is for Eli to be "accepted."

“Let the Right One In” (c) Photofest / Getty Images

Here, I would like to think about the effects that "blood" brings. The blood depicted in this work has different meanings depending on the time, and it is also different for Oscar and Eli, but as the story progresses, the images of "blood" that they both feel become closer.

In the beginning, blood is what comes out when Oscar is assaulted by a bully, and for Eli, it is what binds him. It is, so to speak, a symbol of something that cannot be escaped. However, in the middle of the story, Oscar cuts his own palm with a knife, trying to evade the "blood oath". This shows that for Oscar, the act of shedding blood has turned into "affection." Before that, there is a scene where Oscar fights back against a bully and causes him to bleed, and it can be said that blood can also be seen as ``courage'' in Oscar. You can see that he wants to show Eri that he has become stronger by jumping into the pain = cutting off his hand.

However, Eri's image of "blood" has not changed, and the relationship between the two faces a crisis. After that, the aforementioned ``tears of blood'' are described, and the two share a symbolic experience of kissing while covered in blood, and their images of ``blood'' become completely aligned.

When the blood spills at the end of this movie, what kind of scene will it be? When we see this scene, the strong contrast between the gruesome screen and the happy emotions will pierce through our bodies and minds.

A boy and a girl laugh, standing over a pool of blood. I don't care about other people. Eli said. "I want to survive even if I kill the other person. That's life." So there is peace. It is a deep-red love that only he and she can understand.

Text: SYO

Born in 1987. After The Graduate from Tokyo Gakugei University, he worked at a film magazine editorial production site and a film information site before becoming a film writer. Works on a wide range of topics including interviews, reviews, columns, event appearances, and recommendation comments. Contributed to ``CINEMORE'', ``FRIDAY Digital'', ``Fan's Voice'', ``Eiga.com'', etc. Twitter「syocinema」

Watch now

View work information

(c) Photofest / Getty Images

To commemorate the release of “Border”, limited screening of “Let the Right One In”

Late show every day from Friday, October 4th to Thursday, October 10th, 2019 *Blu-ray screening

At Human Trust Cinema Shibuya