LawL wrote:andyman wrote:rofl
that was the only thing missing from The Ring, which didn't seem too different to me. But weird for sure
I like that line she said, "a crying woman is a scheming woman"
BAM
Also, the scene where the baby bird falls from the tree and the momma bird scoops it up and eats it is f'ing awesome... I'd like to know how they pulled that off!
What’s your take on the significance of all the faceless women walking up the hill towards Willem at the very end?
Hard to say, I could hardly tell they were faceless and the scene was very short. I figure a very important, all encompassing message would have been longer. The same song (and only song in the movie) is played at the beginning and end in the same fashion.. I looked up the song, it is 'Lascia ch'io pianga' from 'Rinaldo', an opera. This synopsis of the opera was on wikipedia (don't hate):
Act 1
The Christian camp outside the gates of Jerusalem. Rinaldo, a knight, reminds Goffredo, the captain general of the Crusade force, that Goffredo promised him the hand of his daughter Almirena, if the city is conquered. Armida, Queen of Damascus, enchantress and mistress of Argante, the Saracen king of Jerusalem, arrives in a fiery chariot and tells him that they will only conquer the city if Rinaldo is detached from the Christian army. In a grove, Almirena and Rinaldo affirm their love. Armida leads Almirena away. When Rinaldo resists, the women are carried away in a black cloud and Rinaldo is devastated. Goffredo and his brother Eustazio enter and the latter advises consulting a hermit to defeat Armida. Rinaldo calls on tempests to help him.
Act 2
On a seashore, amid mermaids, Rinaldo and Goffredo complain about how far they must travel to find the hermit. Eustazio tells them they are close to their destination. Rinaldo is lured into a boat by a spirit in the form of a lovely woman who tells him Almirena has sent her. His companions are unable to prevent him entering the boat. In Armida's enchanted palace garden, Argante makes advances to Almirena, saying he can prove his love by breaking Armida's spell. She pleads to be left alone. Armida is pleased at Rinaldo's capture and offers him her love. When he refuses, she changes her appearance to that of Almirena. Taken in at first, he is furious when the deception is revealed. On Argante's arrival, she again changes her appearance which only exposes his affection for Almirena. She calls for revenge.
Act 3
The hermit's cave at the bottom of a mountain with a palace at the top. The hermit-magician tells Goffredo and Eustazio that Rinaldo and Almirena are prisoners in the palace. The Christians' first attempt to release them is repelled by 'ugly' spirits, they escape back to the cave and the magician gives them special wands to conquer witchcraft. They strike the palace gates, the mountain disappears, leaving Goffredo and Eustazio clinging to the sides of a huge rock in the middle of the sea. Armida tries to stab Almirena, Rinaldo draws his sword but is restrained by spirits. His companions arrive and use their wands to transform the garden into the area near the city gate at Jerusalem. They are reunited with Rinaldo. Armida again tries to stab Almirena, Rinaldo attacks her and she vanishes. Argante and Armida are reconciled. The armies prepare to fight. The Christians win, thanks to Rinaldo. Argante and Armida are captured and profess the Christian faith. Almirena and Rinaldo are united.
There are similarities between that opera and the movie if you look at it generally (except the ending... and some of act one...). I know I'm stretching it but the movie may just be his interpretation of that opera. Plus the fact that neither of the main characters have a name probably means they are simply representing something else.
He sees the three symbols for pain, grief, and despair just before the mass of women come trudging up the hill and that probably means something has been resolved but I don't know what for sure (probably his wife). Also, they are all wearing skirts and who knows wtf that means.
I think a closer look at the literature in the house that he found would reveal something. Maybe Lar Von Trier could chime in....
This movie eludes me and I don't like being beaten by a movie...