Anna was delusional, she believed her son Anders was still alive. When she picked up her son along with his new friend (the red jacket boy) - what actual happenings were, she invited the red jacket boy home because they lived in the same building. When Henry (Helge) talked to the red jacket boy, that did happen; but Henry thought he talked to Anders. However, my time line was questionable. The red jacket boy was (assumed) buried earlier than Henry's visit.
I'd say that makes about as much sense as any possible explanation of the twisted events in the film lol. There were so many points while I was watching it where I was just totally confused. At one point I was sure that both Anna and Anders were nuts and that red jacket boy was actually Anders' schizophrenic alter-ego. It was pretty clear almost the entire way through that Anders either didn't exist or was dead, but they kept you questioning the whole time. I really liked that about the film actually. You never quite knew what was going on, even at the end when they gave us a few answers. The whole lake/parking lot bit was really weird. When Anna saw the man drowning the little boy, was that red jacket boy or was she having a flashback to her ex-husband drowning Anders? Also, when Helge finds the body in the blue bag in the forest, is that red jacket boy?? So many unanswered questions about that kid, seriously!!
This film was certainly a bit of a *beep* That being said, I do enjoy a good, smart psychological thriller that both makes you think and creeps you out at the same time. Noomi Rapace, one of my favourite actresses, gave a wonderfully emotional and involved performance as she always does. This is the third or fourth Swedish film I've watched and I enjoy them in general. I love watching foreign films, getting a taste of European cinema. It's a welcome change from the typical Hollywood drivel we're used to here in North America.
I had the same thought about Anders's alter ego. But totally changed my mind when Heldge try to enter Anders room and anna stoped him.
The simple explaination is she imagined everythings related to her son. She doesn't see her son's ghost, though she saw her neighbour's one. While having a cafe with Helge she told him I find my self home not knowing what I did during hours. would mean all the time she believe she spend with her son.
The red jacked boy died pretty soon. The same night she bought that babycall she hear him scream, the father kill him at home. The lake scene is her imagination. She is reliving her son's death that she probably/obviously witnessed. And yes the grave on the drawing is where the red jacked boy has been burried by his own father. i guess Anna found it the day she followed that woman and drew it during one of her blank period. What's tricky is why her clothes are wet when she has been found in the parking lot.
I used to have super powers, but my therapist took them away
That's one part I didn't get, how her clothes could have been wet unless we assume she was imagining the parts where people were telling her they were wet also. In the end, the very last scene when she and her son discover the lake, they are so happy and have a wonderful peaceful time. That is so tragic because it's really what the whole film is about, how Anna had always wanted that so desperately for her and her son and it never happened but it's what should have happened. Excellent movie, very powerful and very chilling.
When you get up in the morning, how do you decide what shade of black to wear? (Shallow Grave)
The woman who was there when red jacket boy got drowned was wearing the coat of the neighbor lady. So you're saying she imagined the whole thing with her husband drowning Anders except with all these neighbors? The movie definitely kept me guessing but I think the ending was a little too confused for all the questions that arise during the movie. I read some more of the posts here but that's my initial thought.