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So genocide is the answer? (spoilers of course)

posted 10 years ago by Diss
5 replies | jump to latest

I like how the director's answer to arrogance is more arrogance. Who is she to judge other human beings? Yes I can see how not holding others accountable for their actions, and not expecting them to act like decent human beings (because they are weak and incapable of that) is arrogant, but the decision she ultimately made was arrogant as well. To kill another human being for their failings implies you are better than them, and you deem them unworthy to live.

I'm curious what the director is trying to say here. Is there some hidden message he's saying about America's arrogance? I don't see it, if that's the case. If anything America is like Grace, committing genocide on those peoples who America deems not worthy. But the director is implying that is not arrogant thinking, and that holding people to a higher standard is okay.

I know I'm just throwing thoughts out there. Don't take them too seriously. I like this film because it does make you think. And there could be a couple different interpretations of what the director is trying to say. It's a very morally ambiguous film, it's why I like it. It's possible the director isn't trying to say anything, and just threw this material out there. Please don't criticize my post, but share your thoughts of the message at the end of this movie (if any).

[–] Gregor_81 10 years ago

Excellent question.

I don't think that Grace's solution is one that the director is proposing as ethically correct.

The whole idea of this movie is that we all succumb to corruption due to our sufferings, and we must be held accountable for what we should know is wrong, or we are no more than dogs. Grace succumbs to corruption as well, and her suffering turns justice into vengeance.

I think the director really wants us to also ask; Should Grace be forgiven for killing all those people after what they did to her, or should she be punished as well?

Determinism is a tricky bitch.

[–] AimC 10 years ago

The answer to what?

Not to harp on this anti-America theme in some other threads but America doesn't have a native American "problem" today.
Russia has an ethnic minority problem.
You won't have a problem with a dead person.

But, the answer to what?

[–] Drooch (5333) 3 years ago

On reflection Grace believed that had she acted as they did she could not forgive herself, so she punishes them as she would have punished herself - with death.

I’m thrilled that she did, but where I draw the line is killing children and even a baby. I’m glad the film ‘went there’ because it forced me to ask myself where I would draw that line. It was some great trolling on Von Trier’s part - stoking your bloodlust then going overboard until you're like ‘err… whoah there Grace’.

[–] exatera (3955) 9 months ago

The movie is allegorical, and the meaning is only revealed in the dialogue between Grace and her father in the finale. Grace's father is God, and Grace, as the daughter of God, is this infinitely virtuous and all-forgiving figure similar to Jesus.

So what do you think was worse - what people did in Sodom and Gomorrah, or what God did to them?
Or do you think babies survived the Great Flood?

I mean, I personally am an atheist, and I had to read some interpretations online to make sense of the movie because it's not natural for me to think this way. But once I read this, everything fell into place.

[–] liscarkat (18410) a year ago

"To kill another human being for their failings implies you are better than them, and you deem them unworthy to live."

In fact, I am better than murderers, torturers, rapists, child molesters, kidnappers, thieves, arsonists, car jackers, etc., etc., because I have not done, and never will do those things. If killing a murderer or such ilk will protect innocent people from his future predations, then it is morally justified.