We have dramatic moods, periods of deep depression, and forms of mania that can last hours or days (in my case) to weeks, but we don’t commonly resort to premeditated murder. She needs people in her personal life by her side. It's [crazy], because we all know her, and we know her face and what she sounds like. As someone recently diagnosed with a form of bipolar disorder (rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, to be precise), these opening moments undermine the drama. Brad Miska. There were moments when I slapped my face with my hands, but the beauty of the community and the way that it's cut, and the rhythm and the music is very ceremonial, and ritualistic. Midsommar, like Ari Aster’s previous feature, Hereditary, deals with grief and trauma through intense moments of violence, and grapples with what coping can look like. Have you also heard what she's done with her voice? on. Jack helped me through a lot of stuff, and he held my hand. Alamo on Demand Launches 18-Film Lucio Fulci Collection; Plus Curated Picks from Ari Aster. In the last two years alone she’s starred in Netflix’s Joan Didion adaptation T. It’s not a coincidence that the protagonist of Daphne Du Maurier’s most successful novel, 1938’s Rebecca, is known only as the second Mrs de Winter, When you think of blues icons, names like B.B. Conversely, when it comes to Dani’s sister, Terri, Aster may also be perpetuating stereotypes on the very same topic, making Midsommar a difficult film to reckon with. In our film, the costumes were such a massive thing. She’s unapologetic, and confident in herself, and curious, and brave, and emotionally brave far more than I ever was. Mark equates having a therapist as having enough help and support for mental health issues, reflecting real world misunderstandings and attitudes about mental health care and support. All of those around her are absorbed in their work, insecurities, and sexual needs instead of trying to understand and care for their friend. We stick out like sore thumbs, and that is the whole point.”, “I never saw that, but that doesn't surprise me at all. Los Angeles: Actor Scarlett Johansson says she do believe that her “Black Widow” co-star Florence Pugh could succeed her as the titular superhero and take the franchise forward. He relates to Dani through his own experiences with losing his parents, explaining how he does understand her grief, but that it was easier for him because he had the support of his community. I've never really witnessed that level of trauma. Horror, pizza and basketball connoisseur. Pugh, the star of films such as “Little Women” and “Midsommar”, plays the role of Yelena, Natasha’s sister, in the Cate Shortland-directed movie. The work that went into solidifying that community was immense, and, Ari did a lot of research into cults and into midsummer in Swedish communities. She is slowly introduced to what a real support system could look like with Pelle, their Swedish friend who invites them to witness his village’s Midsommar celebration. It is only when Dani dissolves into a full-blown panic attack that she fully understands what the empathy of the Hårga can offer her. Totally! That was fascinating, because when we walked into that community, it really was a solid community. When Christian says that she does in fact have a therapist, Mark retorts that she ought to call them instead of Christian because calling a partner for support is, to him, abuse. Dani doesn’t need to hide her anxieties. It's so fascinating. And now, you can look for Pugh in the forthcoming Marvel movie Black Widow, starring opposite Scarlett Johansson.Johansson takes on the title character, with Pugh stepping in as Yelena Belova. Florence Pugh (/ p j uː / PEW; born 3 January 1996) is an English actress and singer.She made her debut in the mystery film The Falling (2014) and gained recognition for her leading role as an unhappily married woman in the independent drama Lady Macbeth (2016). I would be silly to not be excited by it. That, to me, is more horrible to watch.”. 7/03/19 2:00PM ... and now Florence Pugh in Midsommar. But when you do something this big, you have to expect it's going to hurt somewhat.”. While friends and partners should not by any means be a sole source of support, a support system is essential in the healing process. Earlier this year we put a spotlight on Florence Pugh (Little Women, Midsommar) and her standout roles in 2019, pointing out that there's more to come this year!. Terri, who is bipolar, is depicted as a burden who only adds to her sister’s stress due to her unpredictable behavior, culminating in a foreboding email declaring that everything is dark, that mom and dad are coming with her, and goodbye. I wasn't being [Dani] all the time, but, yeah, she was a very heavy person to play. After a, When I meet Pugh in person at New York’s Crosby Hotel — one day before Aster’s highly anticipated, Ahead, Pugh tells Refinery29 about her biggest movie fear, how, “No, no, no.You won't get creeped out in that sense. Every single costume has got a runic symbol — individually designed, and it means something different. Follow her on Twitter @mbmcandrews. Midsommar takes a step forward and a step back in its portrayal of mental illness. You're proving that you've had a wicked time, and it's all great — you definitely don't smell after four days of not showering. Many people with bipolar disorder deal with suicidal ideation, but we are not inherently homicidal. Midsommar captures these feelings in such a strong way, showcasing the anxieties and concessions many people with anxiety and depression are willing to make to seem like less of an inconvenience. I just didn't want them in my head, and I know that the first time I ever got horribly terrified by something was actually, “The tricky thing about this film is, there is a whole journey of a failing relationship, and also [Dani] has dealt with such a traumatic family tragedy. A group of women bring her to a room and begin to cry with her. When she discovers Christian having sex with another woman, Dani begins screaming and sobbing. What she lacks is a support system that understands her anxiety. [Ed. Florence Pugh Swears Midsommar Isn't That Scary. So, yes, it's about a community, and, yes, it's about a festival that goes wrong. As she interacts with the Hårga, she is exposed to their way of life; to some, it is graphically violent, but to Dani, it is almost utopian. This sends Dani into a spiral of panic, but her boyfriend, Christian, blows off Terri’s behavior as weird but common. If this is what it’s like, then what else is next?’ “If that happens and I am lucky enough that people appreciate my character, that’s an exciting road to go on. Bloody Disgusting has an exclusive look at special features content “Let the Festivities Begin: Manifesting Midsommar”, a featurette that details the making of Aster’s nightmare. It’s very representative, also, of who she is as a person. However, the film still has a complicated relationship with mental illness; Terri and Dani’s diagnoses are different, and treated very differently, too, creating a hierarchy of mental illness in which “easily” diagnosable afflictions are made scary while more nebulous struggles with anxiety and depression come across as less harmful. However, by way of sun-drenched pagan ceremonies, Midsommar more directly addresses the important role empathy plays in living with mental illness. This realization culminates in the murder and burning of Christian, Mark, and Josh. Most of the action in The Trial of the Chicago. Pugh, the star of films such as "Little Women" and "Midsommar", plays the role of Yelena, Natasha's sister, in the Cate Shortland-directed movie. ‘Destroy All Monsters’ and Two Other Classic ‘Godzilla’ Movies Coming to Select Drive-in Theaters, “Once Upon a Time We Were Falling in Love”: Why Time Will Be Kind to ‘The Strangers: Prey at Night’, Bruce Campbell Says ‘Evil Dead Rise’ Will Put a Heroine Up Against Urban Deadites, Joe Manganiello Reportedly Filming Additional Scenes as Deathstroke for Zack Snyder’s ‘Justice League’, The “American Horror Story” Murder House is Opening to the Public for a Virtual Livestream Halloween Event, Crypt TV Unleashes the “Kinderfanger” On the Road to Halloween [Trailer], “A Creepshow Animated Special” Brings Halloween Frights to Shudder on October 29th! There is a deep-seated worry that all of the people who love you will leave you at the slightest inconvenience. Dani’s implied mental illness is further compounded by the way Christian and his friends talk about her. Midsommar reinvents the modern scream queen through Florence Pugh's multi-layered performance as Dani Ardor. Cheryl Eddy. After 10 years and seven films of playing the Russian superspy-turned- Avenger, Johansson is expected to bid adieu to the character of Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow with the upcoming film. They love to hate her because they all know that, secretly, if their voice spoke without them thinking about it, they would say the exact same thing. The images from Midsommar only reinforce my own personal fears about myself and what people expect from me. She does not have to experience this anguish alone and carry it all on her shoulders; there are people to help and quite literally support her. Yes, it's about this group of friends that get themselves in this horrendous scenario. Also, in terms of content, what I'd been doing on. Fans Speculate as 'Thala' Hands Jersey to Pandya Brothers, Twitter Sees Rahul Vaidya As Bigg Boss 14 Potential Winner, Declares Him 'the Next Gautam Gulati', Three Delhi Eateries Threatened, Voted Down Online for Feeding Rohingya Refugees, Hansal Mehta's 'Scam 1992' is Now #1 Show on IMDb, Beats 'Breaking Bad' and 'Chernobyl', Neha Kakkar Flaunts 'Chooda' as She Grooves With Rohanpreet on Their Sagan, Indian Cricketers Harmanpreet, Smriti & Others Reach UAE for Women's T20 Challenge. What Dani does come to realize is the power of empathy and community through the Hårga people, albeit in quite a violent way. No one wails like Florence Pugh. But we’ll just see if people like Yelena first,” the actor said. The work and the craftsmanship that went into that — I have another fantastic gown that took so many hours to make. “I definitely felt that way from the very beginning. That Dani has a therapist, takes medication, and is repeatedly seen calming herself through breathing exercises shows that she has coping skills. King, Ray Charles, and Muddy Waters often come to mind almost immediately, but we wouldn’t have blues as w, This story contains spoilers for The Trial of the Chicago 7, available to stream on Netflix 16th October. You also see the generational difference, too, in how they react to things, and what they’re careful about, or what they’re careless about,” the 35-year-old actor said.