Visual Parallels: The Witch + Midsommar

Watch Movies TV -The Witch and Midsommar have a lot in common - they both came from A24, they are directed by young, promising directors and they are both led by an incredibly talented young actress - the world was introduced to Anya Taylor - Joy in The Witch and Florence Pugh's breakthrough role came in Midsommar.

They both focus on women and they are both such an empathetic portrayal of them, in spite of being written by men. Thomasin and Dani are never judged and they are shown in such sympathetic, understanding light. In fact, the heroines' only flaws are that they are too understanding and trusting.

Thomasin is being shamed and is considered untrustworthy because of the fact she is maturing and because of this her mother resents her - for what she may awake in men around her. Dani is seen as overly sensitive, irrational and "not fun" by men around her. Thomasin cannot stop growing up and Dani cannot prevent the horrible tragedy that happens to her family. In the eyes of the others it makes them damaged goods - Thomasin, because her female graces make her "dangerous" and Dani, because her past makes her "too much to handle".

"She has surrendered to a joy known only by the insane. She has lost herself completely, and she is finally free. It is horrible and it is beautiful" - Ari Aster

The Devil wants Thomasin and The cult wants Dani - they want their youth, their beauty and they prey on their desperation, loneliness and the fact their lives are awful. In the end, both Thomasin and Dani snap - but in their madness they finally experience freedom, for the first time in their lives. Yes, they are both trapped - Thomasin sells her soul to the Devil and Dani will never escape the cult - but perhaps the madness they found along with it, is the only way they can experience joy. No one is judged more than women in this world and that madness frees them from that judgment, as well as from constraints of society and from hardships of trying to please everyone around them.

Perhaps it's the only path to true freedom.

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