Oh the sheer excitement in finding another clementine scene! I was on my fourth rewatch (I know, I'm way behind) and spotted a peeled clementine in episode 3 of season 2. The opening shot is Wille practicing breathing techniques. Soon we cut to August talking to his stepfather and what's on the desk? Half of a peeled clementine!
August has had to swallow his pride and be completely honest with his stepfather to get some advice about the crime he committed. I'm guessing the clementine is there to reflect that? The scene alternates with Wilhelm continuing to try his breathing strategies without success. Eventually Wille looks pissed and August looks scared. Both of them reflecting honestly how they feel.
I was working off the list a very kind person over on tumblr had linked me to, but I hadn't done any of the sleuthing myself. Thank you for pointing this scene out to me.
And yes, I think you're spot on with your analysis. I would have to check the scene out (I'm just far too tired right now), but it definitely sounds like your interpretation makes absolute sense.
What a brilliant find. I’m really enjoying working my way through all your insights and it’s got me rewatching the show through totally different eyes. I’m a complete film analysis novice, I’d noticed the clementines first time round and could not figure it out at all! The metaphors really do add so much to the depth of the story.
My own little observation - shoes! We see Sara holding and later trying on Felice’s shoes at the pyjama party. Trying on a different way of life perhaps? And very awkward she is too in this unfamiliar territory. In the same episode Wilhelm goes to Simon’s house. He takes his coat off almost straight away, but doesn’t appear to take his shoes off until he closes the door to Simon’s room. I don’t know what’s the norm in Sweden but in my country most people offer to take their shoes off when they enter someone else’s house. Alone with Simon, is this the only place he feels he’s able to ‘take off’ some of the oppressive way of life he normally leads? Not fully of course, you’ve highlighted so many reasons we know he’s not fully able to be himself yet. The psychologist is referred to as a ‘Birkenstock socialist’. Birkenstocks famously being sandals, ie feet are exposed. I was then on the search for Boris without his shoes and, voila, in Wilhelm’s last session of s2, where he is finally talking about how he wants to live his life, Boris is rubbing his besocked foot - very much sans shoe!
Anyway, I’m aware you wrote this a long while ago but if you should happen to see this comment thank you so much! I’ve already started boring my partner by going on about the possible subtext in other shows we are watching, I feel a whole new world has opened up to me!
Thank you for your lovely and thoughtful comment. And yes, metaphors are one of several ways to add subtext to a story. But they're obviously always just the uppermost layer of the subtext, the layer that sits immediately underneath the plain text itself. A real subtextual building always has several storeys underneath that metaphor-basement, so to speak. Several floors underground. And boy, this show really doesn't disappoint on that front.
As for the shoes: We will come back to that later on, okay? But you've got a very keen eye; that's for sure. A++ from me.:)
And I hear you on the real life effect of this show; although it helps if you've tethered your life wagon to someone with the same obsessions, if I may say so. Obsessions like film analysis, that is.:D
Ok another question, this one about mirrors (of the soul). When we initially meet Wilhelm, he's literally standing in front of a mirror, anxiously breathing and looking at his battered face. (Great set-up, BTW). The next time, he's in the bathroom washing his hands, face all healed up but he's just witnessed straight ( presumably )classmates making out. Of course, he's flashing on Simon's face during this moment. It's searching ? conflicted ? look he's giving himself. August moves a mirror aside to get his drugs in his room, so he doesn't have to 'face' himself. In season 2, there is a mirror in Wilhelm's room that is obliquely referred to when he is being fitted for his jacket ( upper crusty, having a tailor!!) When he is practicing his speech, he is standing in front of that same mirror but we see HIM, not his reflection. So your thoughts again? I found some references to mirrors on Tumblr but could't find the links. Again, thanks for the master class.
And yes. Very well spotted! You've got very sharp eyes, I must say.
I promise I will write a post about this one later on because I've been planning to do that for quite a while, but I'd rather not say anything more about it at this point because it might turn into a 25-page rant, and I'd like to reserve that for the post itself (or else I'll be sitting here all night typing).
In the meanwhile...the little dessert treat for my paid subscribers will be out tomorrow, and as it turns out it's not little. It's actually a rather big piece of cake. I hope you'll enjoy your meal, and I'll just say that it'll go best with a glass of wine.:)
Thanks as always for the write-up! I was wondering if you could share the list of clementine occurrences? I poked around tumblr a bit but couldn't find it. I enjoy going back and watching each scene after reading your thoughts. Thank you!
You do, however, need a tumblr account yourself to open their account.
You should find the whole list there. Without this kind person, I probably wouldn't have written the above post at all. I just found and added two of the scenes:
1) In episode two (season one) Micke Eriksson's apartment behind Simon when Simon visits his father for the second time. (That's the tilt shot into the half-darkened living room.)
2) Episode five (season one): Santa Lucia (at the very beginning, right after the establishing shot of the school)
Thank you. I'm so glad to hear this. Especially that you think it well-written because analyzing something is one thing, but getting something written down that's lived in your head rent-free for a couple of months is actually the hard part, as it turns out.
Anyway, as to your question: That's a No on both counts. I did not. But if it's okay, that's all I'm going to say on the subject because I don't think I'm that important or interesting, for that matter. I really don't want to put myself into these articles too much because I think that would just be distracting to the readers.
Thank you again for your kind words. That's all the motivation I need.:)
Oh the sheer excitement in finding another clementine scene! I was on my fourth rewatch (I know, I'm way behind) and spotted a peeled clementine in episode 3 of season 2. The opening shot is Wille practicing breathing techniques. Soon we cut to August talking to his stepfather and what's on the desk? Half of a peeled clementine!
August has had to swallow his pride and be completely honest with his stepfather to get some advice about the crime he committed. I'm guessing the clementine is there to reflect that? The scene alternates with Wilhelm continuing to try his breathing strategies without success. Eventually Wille looks pissed and August looks scared. Both of them reflecting honestly how they feel.
I saw that too. It's one of these rare moments when August is "true", vulnerable etc. Like when he's with Sara.
Ah. Brilliant. Thank you for letting me know.
I was working off the list a very kind person over on tumblr had linked me to, but I hadn't done any of the sleuthing myself. Thank you for pointing this scene out to me.
And yes, I think you're spot on with your analysis. I would have to check the scene out (I'm just far too tired right now), but it definitely sounds like your interpretation makes absolute sense.
What a brilliant find. I’m really enjoying working my way through all your insights and it’s got me rewatching the show through totally different eyes. I’m a complete film analysis novice, I’d noticed the clementines first time round and could not figure it out at all! The metaphors really do add so much to the depth of the story.
My own little observation - shoes! We see Sara holding and later trying on Felice’s shoes at the pyjama party. Trying on a different way of life perhaps? And very awkward she is too in this unfamiliar territory. In the same episode Wilhelm goes to Simon’s house. He takes his coat off almost straight away, but doesn’t appear to take his shoes off until he closes the door to Simon’s room. I don’t know what’s the norm in Sweden but in my country most people offer to take their shoes off when they enter someone else’s house. Alone with Simon, is this the only place he feels he’s able to ‘take off’ some of the oppressive way of life he normally leads? Not fully of course, you’ve highlighted so many reasons we know he’s not fully able to be himself yet. The psychologist is referred to as a ‘Birkenstock socialist’. Birkenstocks famously being sandals, ie feet are exposed. I was then on the search for Boris without his shoes and, voila, in Wilhelm’s last session of s2, where he is finally talking about how he wants to live his life, Boris is rubbing his besocked foot - very much sans shoe!
Anyway, I’m aware you wrote this a long while ago but if you should happen to see this comment thank you so much! I’ve already started boring my partner by going on about the possible subtext in other shows we are watching, I feel a whole new world has opened up to me!
Thank you for your lovely and thoughtful comment. And yes, metaphors are one of several ways to add subtext to a story. But they're obviously always just the uppermost layer of the subtext, the layer that sits immediately underneath the plain text itself. A real subtextual building always has several storeys underneath that metaphor-basement, so to speak. Several floors underground. And boy, this show really doesn't disappoint on that front.
As for the shoes: We will come back to that later on, okay? But you've got a very keen eye; that's for sure. A++ from me.:)
And I hear you on the real life effect of this show; although it helps if you've tethered your life wagon to someone with the same obsessions, if I may say so. Obsessions like film analysis, that is.:D
Ok another question, this one about mirrors (of the soul). When we initially meet Wilhelm, he's literally standing in front of a mirror, anxiously breathing and looking at his battered face. (Great set-up, BTW). The next time, he's in the bathroom washing his hands, face all healed up but he's just witnessed straight ( presumably )classmates making out. Of course, he's flashing on Simon's face during this moment. It's searching ? conflicted ? look he's giving himself. August moves a mirror aside to get his drugs in his room, so he doesn't have to 'face' himself. In season 2, there is a mirror in Wilhelm's room that is obliquely referred to when he is being fitted for his jacket ( upper crusty, having a tailor!!) When he is practicing his speech, he is standing in front of that same mirror but we see HIM, not his reflection. So your thoughts again? I found some references to mirrors on Tumblr but could't find the links. Again, thanks for the master class.
Thank you.
And yes. Very well spotted! You've got very sharp eyes, I must say.
I promise I will write a post about this one later on because I've been planning to do that for quite a while, but I'd rather not say anything more about it at this point because it might turn into a 25-page rant, and I'd like to reserve that for the post itself (or else I'll be sitting here all night typing).
In the meanwhile...the little dessert treat for my paid subscribers will be out tomorrow, and as it turns out it's not little. It's actually a rather big piece of cake. I hope you'll enjoy your meal, and I'll just say that it'll go best with a glass of wine.:)
Thanks again for all your efforts on our collective behalf. Eagerly waiting for the 'piece of cake'
Devotedly-
Thanks as always for the write-up! I was wondering if you could share the list of clementine occurrences? I poked around tumblr a bit but couldn't find it. I enjoy going back and watching each scene after reading your thoughts. Thank you!
Sure. It's this post here (down at the end of the long thread of reblogs):
https://www.tumblr.com/emberc/719591865766330369/tumblr
You do, however, need a tumblr account yourself to open their account.
You should find the whole list there. Without this kind person, I probably wouldn't have written the above post at all. I just found and added two of the scenes:
1) In episode two (season one) Micke Eriksson's apartment behind Simon when Simon visits his father for the second time. (That's the tilt shot into the half-darkened living room.)
2) Episode five (season one): Santa Lucia (at the very beginning, right after the establishing shot of the school)
Thank you for reading and for your comment.
This, again, was a pleasure to read! Fascinating, catchy, brilliant, very thoughtful and well-written.
I am so looking forward to read other articles/analysis I have not read yet and also to read new ones!
Have you like studied something conencted to this? Film making or script writing or?
I love your insights so much! Thank you. ❤️
Thank you. I'm so glad to hear this. Especially that you think it well-written because analyzing something is one thing, but getting something written down that's lived in your head rent-free for a couple of months is actually the hard part, as it turns out.
Anyway, as to your question: That's a No on both counts. I did not. But if it's okay, that's all I'm going to say on the subject because I don't think I'm that important or interesting, for that matter. I really don't want to put myself into these articles too much because I think that would just be distracting to the readers.
Thank you again for your kind words. That's all the motivation I need.:)
Yes, it really is well-written, it goes smoothly and you really go through one idea before moving to the next one, it's a pleasure to read it.
As for the question, thank you for the answer, and yes, it is totally ok not sharing more. :)
Respect, man!