Mise-en-scene: Midsommar

Garrett T. Marchant

Prof. Saphire

COM. 126.01

10/08/2020

Midsommar Scene Analysis

In Ari Aster’s thrilling film, Midsommar, a toxic relationship turns deadly as a couple and their two friends travel with their Swedish classmate to his hometown village. Aster uses the brightness of the sun and full blooming vegetation, to cast the viewers into a beautifully colorful delirium. The village, though beautiful, is actually a disguised Pagan cult with bizarre and horrific customs and traditions. The characters' realizations of the danger they are in, come in vulnerable moments shortly before their demise. Early in the movie, the group is given psychedelic mushrooms to help them relax and get comfortable with their surroundings. Later we realize, the group has been repetitively given psychedelics in the form of tea, during their entire stay. This distorts their perception of reality, heightens the beauty of their surroundings, and continually causes the characters to yield to the traditions of the village. 

Each moment of this film is a beautiful display of colors, with an incredibly brightened view as if the sun was at its highest point of the day. In my particularly chosen scene, the main character, Dani, finds herself involved in a traditional dance between all the women which will decide this summer's “May Queen”. Each dance member dances in a circle around a beautifully arranged flower post after consuming psychedelic tea; the last one standing is the winner. During this scene, the women wear beautifully made white gowns, with elegant flower crowns in their intricately woven hair. As the dance begins, there is no dialogue between the character’s. The only sounds are that of the instruments playing the song to the dance, the instructors voice telling them when to stop and begin, and the occasional chuckling between the girls. Dani, who suffers from extreme anxiety, and panic attacks, can be seen switching back and forth from an incredibly worried and anxious expression, to a fully blissful smile. This scene is incredibly important to Dani’s growth. It’s a visual representation of her letting go of what burdens her, the death of her family, the toxicity of her relationship, and her extreme anxiety. 

The consumption of tea, and brightness of the sun, could even be considered a form of symbolism to the growth of a plant or flower, which the women are covered in. At one point during the dance, the camera shows the viewpoint of Dani’s eyesight. In this first person view, we hear nothing but the panting of Dani’s breath, and can see nothing through the glaring shine of the sun in her eyes. While viewing the scene through Dani’s perspective, the audience is exposed to the fact that Dani can not see or hear anything going on around her. This moment continues the scene's visual and audial representations of Dani now being blind and deaf to the madness that surrounds her. 

The films' well thought out design of using visual, and audial kinesis, makes for an incredibly breathtaking viewing experience. This film has some of the most impressive cinematography that I have seen in my movie viewing experiences. 98% of the film appears to be shot during the Solar Noon of the day. The film's visual brightness, concentration of colors, and eerie plotline make this film as thrilling as they come. Very seldom do audiences see a horror film that is created in broad daylight. The mise-en-scene, used in this film is unlike any other. These aspects of film making create a unique plot line, with a lasting visual experience.

CLIP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLIPowmQTwE&t=38s