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Who was shot

posted 18 years ago by peter-r-odder
5 replies | jump to latest

This is probably meant to be up to the viewer, but I would to like to know other people's oppinion, because I do not have a clue myself.
In the ending of the film, when Anna's father is talking to the police outside Svend and Anna's hiding place, a gunshot is heard, and the movie ends. Who gets killed, if anyone? Did Anna kill herself, did she kill Svend or her own father. I believe moments earlier she was looking through some stuff in a bag or something and found a gun. Did something completely different happen?

[–] IceaFrost 18 years ago

Actually two gunshots are heard. I interpreted it that Anna first shot and killed Sven and then herself. When Anna gets up and notices the policemen outside we see her look at the gun. Then it cuts to Anna's father outside who is talking about how Sven is really a good person. A shot is heard, we see Anna's father embracing his wife, and another shot is heard. The picture freezes and zooms in on Anna's father. This is why I thought Anna killed Sven and her, and I think it's fairly apparent by her father's facial expression that he believs that too.

[–] peter-r-odder 18 years ago

Right, there are two shots. Your explanation makes a lot of sence, and it is probably the only answer.
Actually I could never see, who Anna's father embraces.
Thank you.

Very powerfull movie. You really se how evil Höglund is, when he burns the poor farmers money.

[–] karinmob 18 years ago

The person Anna's father embraces is his son, Axel, Anna's brother.
I wrote an academic paper about this brilliant movie, which I later developed into a book about Hans Alfredson's movies. While working on the book I interviewed director Alfredson himself, and asked him this very question, as I found it very difficult to see. And so he replied it was the son, Axel.
Incidentally, the role of Axel was played by Alfredsons's youngest son, Thomas, and one of the angels by his other son, Daniel. Both sons are now film directors like their father.

[–] magnus-brav 18 years ago

I agree with what the previous posters have said. A telling sign is definitely the look on Per Myrberg's face right before the camera zooms out.

Excellent movie by the way. One of the best Swedish films ever made for sure.

[–] x2frnz 17 years ago

I thought that the camera zooming out and up indicated Sven's death, with his spirit being whisked up to Heaven as though on angels' wings. Too goofy? There was almost no camera movement through the rest of the film so I felt that it was important and dramatic when it happened right after the shots.