Watched this, finally, as the trailer had me excited.

I'd actually disagree and say this was pretty good. It was exactly what I expected and had some powerful layers built throughout the film. The only problem is Aster is one of the few filmmakers I see who can truely make me uncomfortable and I have no interest in watching it again. Not as bad as Hereditary, but close enough.

While the film, overtly, is about the relationship, Dani's awakening, etc., I actually think there is something a bit broader at play. A few things first:
1. There is no magic. I find it interesting that Aster makes it clear there is nothing supernatural at play, just a belief that there is supernatural things. Where Hereditary made those things clear, Midsommar avoids showing anything magical.
2. The Hargas had no social structure outside of the elders and their aging rituals. No families, all equal....

Take a look at the 4 main characters - Dani, Christian, Mark, Josh.

Mark is the foo, clearly. Driven by pleasure - drugs and women, he's funny, never takes anything seriously. In essence he's a hedonist, living for fun and pleasure.

Josh is the scientist. He's there solely for intellectual pursuits, driven by knowledge, and he frames everything he sees in the context.

Christian is...the Christian. He's the Spiritual. And while it might not seem obvious, Chrisitian's relationship to Dani is very much a representation of the majority of religious experience within the broad religions of Christian/Protestants/Jewish. Uncommitted, meandering, still fighting with the scientist frequently even though they often have the same goals.

The three men stand for major drivers for human existence - knowledge, spirituality, happiness.

Dani is the vulnerable, the lost. Everyone experiences loss in life, and Aster compacts that by taking everything from Dani in the first 10 mins. of the film. She's with Christian (might be spiritual but not really believe), she studies psychology (so she's a scientist, but never views the world from that lens), and has no idea where to look for happiness (rejects the drugs until she is urged to, because the Fool makes a big deal out of it). Because of her vulnerability in the beginning, she let's other people drive her....

The Hargas are a collective, a dangerous one, but I haven't thought through it enough to pin down exactly what Aster was intending with them. Is it meant to be "Paganism" itself? That seems too simple. What is clear is how they "use" everyone. They experience everything "collectively," and they are coordindated.

- They smile, a lot, have fun, play games - they put on the mask of hedonism
- They are skilled at alchemy/science, gardening, architecture, and keep tomes of knowledge - They aren't shy to "plant" knowledge in their community
- They need vulnerable believers and systems to use - they need "new blood" from Christians.

There are a few holes here and there, but like I said, I have no interest in watching this again. I couldn't get away of "Christian" being cloaked as a "beast," and being burned. Like Aster is warning (and he's Jewish I believe) people that traditional faiths are going up against something that's going to destroy them.

Sorry for the ramble.

This post was edited on 10/13/19 at 10:48 am