MovieChat Forums > Under solen (1998) Discussion > Question re: Ellen Lind's Marriage

Question re: Ellen Lind's Marriage

posted 14 years ago by SFMovieFan
2 replies | jump to latest

Maybe there's nothing to be confused about and I'm looking for it to be more complex than it was, but Ellen's big secret confuses me. So, am I correct to understand that:

1. Her entire big secret was that she was married?
2. There wasn't an "I'll be back if it doesn't work out" clause in her letter that Erik omitted? Erik simply inserted a fake confession about the money and omitted the "I'll always love you" bit?
3. And it was just as simple as her going back to determine that there was no rectifying her marriage?

I'm not sure why this ending leaves me unsatisfied. I know her big, dark secret was a bigger deal in 1956 rural Sweden than it could ever strike anyone in the urban U.S. today, but still... What is it I'm looking for? I feel like I've eaten a huge meal but still crave some undefined bite. Maybe I'd have been more intrigued if she, too, were trying to swindle the protagonist; that's a darker and more compelling secret.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 11 years ago

1. Yes
2. No. Erik inserted the false confession about money.
3. Well Erik had discovered her big secret and she knew that he would expose her so she chose to leave herself with her confession to Olof in the letter.

I think Ellen, like Erik, was not well developed as a character and that's some of your dissatisfaction.

Movement ends, intent continues;
Intent ends, spirit continues

[–] northpole81 (135) 5 years ago

Am I the only one who noticed she was wearing black when she came back?