MovieChat Forums > Jagten (2012) Discussion > Do you blame Grethe for what she did?

Do you blame Grethe for what she did?


From a number of the comments posted in other threads, it seems many viewers blamed Grethe for being evil or nasty.

I see it a bit differently. First, let me say that I came to seeing it this way by asking myself how would I have reacted if I had been in Grethe's position. And how should I or any reasonable person have reacted?

I think almost everything Grethe did was right, up until the point at which she basically self-convicted Lucas solely based on her erroneous belief that children never lie (by which she apparently also meant that children also never are confused about things and never misinterpret situations) and she told him to leave and never return and wouldn't even talk to him.

But prior to that point, I think she did what most reasonable, well-meaning people should do. She brought in a supposedly outside party to try to interview the child. She put the accused person on leave and notified the authorities. And she notified the staff and parents that an accusation had been made and that an investigation was underway.

The way she later treated Lucas - and Nadja - though, was wrong. As were the ways the townsfolk behaved toward Lucas and Marcus. But prior to those actions, they were all just victims of a series of tragic misunderstandings for which no one was really blameworthy.

(edit: previously wrote "maria" instead of "nadja")

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I think almost everything Grethe did was right, up until the point at which she basically self-convicted Lucas solely based on her erroneous belief that children never lie (by which she apparently also meant that children also never are confused about things and never misinterpret situations) and she told him to leave and never return and wouldn't even talk to him.

But prior to that point, I think she did what most reasonable, well-meaning people should do.


I agree, you can't have a child tell you somethimg like that without making verifications, even if it is someone you know and trust - but she was blundering in her interpretation of the situation.

But then, I don't know how the justice system works in Denmark. In my country, the accused have to be informed of the accusations and proofs against him. Anyone would call a lawyer right away in such a case. The police doesn't act the same, etc. I don't know what would be the "normal" procedure in Denmark in a case like that. Maybe it is not wrong to bring in a third party, or to inform the parents so quickly. I don't know. Maybe that impacts on how we understand the film and some of her actions.

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Yes, of course. She is a terrible person. *beep* and her and she should *beep* kill herself.

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Yes, I blame her for everything happening afterwards. Pissed me off.

"Hail to the king, baby" :OD

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She handled the situation very poorly. Bringing in Ole instead of just going to the police was a very dumb move (especially since from how Ole handled the interview, he clearly had no idea what the hell he was doing).

She pretty much announced him as guilty to the whole village BEFORE she even went to the cops. And her notion that children never lie pretty much spiralled everything that happened after (I mean, come on, she's around kids all the bloody time! She really has no idea how they actually act? The fact that they are willing to lie at the drop of a hat if they believe its what the other person wants to here.)

Frankly, she was an idiot.

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Abso-effing-lutely. The whole thing was basically her fault. To call Grethe a moron would be the best possible compliment you could give her.

I mean for starters, standing him down from work was the right thing, but then telling the whole village's parents at a meeting before the matter could even be investigated properly? Are you for real? Talk about guilty before proven innocent.

Then saying he was molesting the whole kindergarten based on the fact that some children had non-specific nightmares? 

And that's not even counting that 'interview' of Klara where Klara said Lucas didn't even do anything but Grethe kept pushing her to say that he did.

Jeez that woman was infuriating.

Har ring molassis abounding
Common lap kitch sardin a poor floundin
.

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I was hoping Lucas would murder her at the end. I know I would have.

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From a number of the comments posted in other threads, it seems many viewers blamed Grethe for being evil or nasty.


She was neither; just stupid.

All this feels strange and untrue
And I won't waste a minute without you...


-Snow Patrol

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Yes, I do blame her and the outside party she brought in. We see what she hoped to do, but she did it sloppily even if with limited resources. On other hand, she probably just wasn't trained to deal with the situation, so it might possibly be fair to blame her employer too.

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