Midsommar

Main Plot

"Midsommar," directed by Ari Aster, follows a group of friends who travel to Sweden to attend a rare midsummer festival that occurs once every ninety years. The trip is initially seen as a chance to experience a unique cultural event and serves as a distraction for the protagonist, who is grappling with a recent family tragedy. Upon arrival, the group is welcomed by the seemingly idyllic and tight-knit community. However, as the festival progresses, they begin to uncover the community's disturbing rituals and customs. The initially picturesque setting becomes increasingly sinister, leading to a series of shocking and unsettling events. The protagonist's journey becomes one of self-discovery and transformation amidst the harrowing and bizarre occurrences. The film explores themes of grief, isolation, and the human capacity for violence, all set against the backdrop of perpetual daylight in the Scandinavian summer.

Characters

• Florence Pugh plays Dani, a grieving woman who joins her boyfriend on a trip to a Swedish festival, uncovering disturbing cult rituals.
• Jack Reynor plays Christian, the emotionally distant boyfriend whose strained relationship with Dani contributes to the escalating tension and horror within the Swedish festival.
• Vilhelm Blomgren plays Pelle, a Swedish student who invites his friends to a rural festival, leading them into a sinister pagan cult.

Ending Explained

In the conclusion of Ari Aster's "Midsommar," the protagonist, Dani, fully immerses herself in the pagan rituals of the Hårga commune. After a series of disturbing events and the deaths of her friends, Dani participates in the final ceremony of the midsummer festival. She is crowned the May Queen, a position of honor within the community. As part of the ritual, the commune must sacrifice nine lives to purge evil. Four outsiders, including Dani's boyfriend Christian, and four commune members are chosen. The ninth sacrifice is selected by the May Queen, and Dani, in a moment of catharsis and transformation, chooses Christian. He is placed inside a disemboweled bear and burned alive in a temple along with the other sacrifices. As the temple burns, Dani initially appears distraught but gradually begins to smile, signifying her acceptance and rebirth within the Hårga community. The film ends with Dani's serene yet unsettling smile, symbolizing her complete psychological and emotional shift from her past life to her new identity within the cult.