'I'm sorry for your loss Lars'
Was that said by his wife, or a real-estate developer, or a 2nd cousin passing through town?
"Après moi, le deluge." Louis XV
Yeah, I loved the movie but I was confused as to who that woman was supposed to be. Very early in the movie, she appears to be a realtor or housing developer or some such. She tells Lars she can get him so many million for his property. But then later in the movie, it appears that there is more of a personal connection bewtween her and Lars. In the very last scene where they're burying Inga's casket, the lady is helping. I almost get the feeling she could be Lars' wife in that scene.
Nearest I can figure, she must be a good friend or a cousin who stands by Lars in his time of sorrow, but who also happens to be a real estate developer. In a rural community, that wouldn't be so strange.
Anyone else out there who can help with this?
Well your idea makes sense to me, certainly more sense than what they chose to show (or not show) between Lars and The Blonde Lady (not sure of her character's name.)
Perhaps some key scenes between them were edited out, which might have cleared up the nature of their relationship. It's possible that the director/writer/editors didn't view it as too important since the focus of the movie was on Lar's grandparents as young people.
Another theory: since they don't seem quite either married or not married to each other, perhaps they are divorced? In the scene with the little girl at the end when they're burying Inge they both seem to be the parents of the little girl. But whatever their relationship was, it wasn't made clear,
IMHO.
Thanks for responding, glad to know I'm not the only one to question this. And yes, anyone out there who could shed some light on this, please do!
"Après moi, le deluge." Louis XV
Thanks, but I might be ready to revise my theory now! I watched the movie again over the weekend. (Once in a while I get really taken with a good movie that's new to me and can't get enough of it.)
I'm thinking now that maybe these are actually two different people. We don't get a good close-up look at the real estate lady in that early scene who says, "I'm sorry for your loss, Lars". She looks to be more of a blonde to me from what little we see. But the alleged wife in the later scenes is a red-head. What do you think?
We only see the real estate lady in that one scene and she never re-appears. I didn't see "real estate developer" listed in the credits, but maybe she was listed by a first name the writer gave her but which we never hear. Or maybe it's such a small part they didn't include her.
Actually I watched twice too, one of the reasons being that I also thought that the woman with Lars at the beginning of the movie Might be different than the one that was with him at the end of it, and my conclusion was...inconclusive. (Although I lean more towards the idea that it was the same actress, because her face and body looked the same to me, but I'm just not sure).
If it was indeed, 2 different actresses it would explain the business like condolences of the one, compared to the personal sympathy for Lars that the other one had. I didn't notice the difference in hair color, and if that was actually true...good catch! Or is it possible that it was just a change in the lighting that "changed" her hair color? Obviously a light change, or time of day, etc. etc., won't turn a brunette into a blonde, or vice-versa, but if someone is a Strawberry Blonde, for example, I think they could look like either color from time to time.
Maybe someone who has read the story could add their input here? If it WAS the same woman, what was her relationship to Lars?
Anyway I enjoyed the movie very much, it was a beautiful looking movie. Especially love the last scene when Inge and Lars are waltzing in the field, until one last swoop and then they're out of camera range. Every bit as beautiful as the barn building scene in "Witness" but in a more quiet way.
"Après moi, le deluge." Louis XV
Yeah, it's hard to be certain from the distant shots of the real estate lady if indeed she is a different person from the wife. Hair could look different color in different light, as you say. I'm inclined toward assuming they're different people because everything makes more sense to me that way.
It just happens I read the short story recently as well. I got curious and checked it out. But it doesn't shed any light on this question. Read no more if you don't want it spoiled, but ... in the story, it's Inga who has died and Olaf survives her. The main issue is that he wants to bury Inga on their own farm, which people did in the old days but has been already made illegal at time of the story. It mentions that they have several children, but no grandson named Lars is mentioned.
I guess it's good as short stories go. It brings more meaning to the characters being buried on their property in the movie. But the story made me appreciate even more how inventive the screenwriter was, because so much of the movie was in fact newly created. The subplot about Franzen's farm being seized for auction and everyone chipping in to help Olaf pay for it, that was all original to the movie. In fact, the characters of Franzen and Brownie were not in the story at all. There was nothing in the story about socialists.
Yes, I couldn't agree more about that last scene with Inga and Olaf dancing. It's a perfect way to end it, one of the most beautiful and poignant ending sequences I've ever seen in any movie.