# Midsommar

> 2019 Swedish-American film directed by Ari Aster

**Wikidata**: [Q55907451](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q55907451)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsommar)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/midsommar

## Summary

Midsommar is a 2019 movie. It blends elements of horror, drama, and thriller genres.The film follows a group of characters navigating unsettling events during a summer festival in a remote Swedish village. Its narrative combines psychological tension with disturbing imagery, characteristic of its multiple genres.

## Summary
Midsommar is a 2019 Swedish-American folk horror film written and directed by Ari Aster, starring Florence Pugh. The film follows a group of friends who travel to a remote Swedish village for a midsummer festival that devolves into a sinister pagan ritual.

## Key Facts
- Released on July 3, 2019, in Sweden and July 18, 2019, in the United States
- Directed by Ari Aster, who also wrote the screenplay
- Produced by Lars Knudsen, Patrik Andersson, and Ari Aster
- Distributed by A24 in the United States
- Runtime of 147 minutes
- Budget of $9 million
- Box office gross of $47.9 million worldwide
- Filmed in Budapest, Hungary, and Hälsingland, Sweden
- Rated R for disturbing ritualistic violence and grisly images, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language
- Genre classifications include horror film, drama film, and thriller film
- Main cast includes Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren, and Will Poulter
- Cinematography by Pawel Pogorzelski
- Music composed by Bobby Krlic (The Haxan Cloak)
- Edited by Lucian Johnston and Jennifer Lame
- Production companies include B-Reel Films, Square Peg, and A24
- Official website: https://a24films.com/films/midsommar

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Midsommar?**
Midsommar follows Dani Ardor (Florence Pugh), a psychology student grieving a family tragedy, who joins her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) and his friends on a trip to a remote Swedish village to observe a midsummer festival. The seemingly idyllic celebration gradually reveals itself as a disturbing pagan cult ritual with increasingly violent and bizarre practices.

**Who directed Midsommar and what is their background?**
Ari Aster directed and wrote Midsommar. He is an American filmmaker known for his psychological horror films, having previously directed Hereditary (2018). Aster studied film at the American Film Institute Conservatory and has cited influences including Roman Polanski, Ingmar Bergman, and Stanley Kubrick.

**Where was Midsommar filmed?**
The film was primarily shot in Budapest, Hungary, with additional location shooting in Hälsingland, Sweden. The Swedish village sequences were filmed on constructed sets in Hungary designed to replicate traditional Swedish architecture and landscapes.

**What themes does Midsommar explore?**
Midsommar explores themes of grief, codependency in relationships, cultural clash, and the dark undercurrents of seemingly idyllic traditions. The film examines how trauma affects interpersonal relationships and how individuals respond to extreme cultural differences.

**How was Midsommar received by critics and audiences?**
Midsommar received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its cinematography, performances (particularly Florence Pugh's), and unsettling atmosphere. It holds a 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 72/100. Some audiences found it disturbing or slow-paced, while others praised its artistic ambition.

## Why It Matters
Midsommar matters as a significant entry in contemporary horror cinema that elevated folk horror to mainstream audiences while maintaining artistic integrity. The film represents a successful fusion of arthouse sensibilities with genre conventions, demonstrating that horror can be both commercially viable and critically respected. Its exploration of grief and relationship dynamics through the lens of horror provided a fresh perspective on the genre, influencing subsequent horror films to incorporate more psychological depth. The film's distinctive visual style, with its bright, sun-drenched cinematography contrasting with dark subject matter, challenged conventional horror aesthetics and expanded the visual vocabulary of the genre. Midsommar also contributed to the growing recognition of horror as a legitimate form of artistic expression, helping to establish Ari Aster as a major voice in modern cinema and reinforcing A24's reputation for supporting innovative, boundary-pushing films.

## Notable For
- One of the most successful folk horror films in mainstream cinema
- Florence Pugh's breakout performance that established her as a leading actress
- Distinctive visual style contrasting bright daylight with disturbing content
- Successful blend of arthouse aesthetics with commercial horror elements
- Exploration of grief and relationship dynamics through horror framework
- Significant influence on subsequent folk horror and elevated horror films
- Strong critical reception despite challenging subject matter
- Effective use of Swedish cultural elements and pagan traditions
- Memorable and disturbing imagery that became cultural touchstones
- Soundtrack by Bobby Krlic that enhanced the film's unsettling atmosphere
- Box office success relative to modest $9 million budget
- Establishment of Ari Aster as a prominent horror auteur
- Contribution to A24's reputation for quality independent horror
- Influence on horror's shift toward more psychological and artistic approaches

## Body

### Production and Development
Midsommar was conceived by Ari Aster following the success of his debut feature Hereditary. The screenplay was written by Aster himself, who drew inspiration from Swedish midsummer traditions and his own experiences with relationship dissolution. Production began in the summer of 2018, with filming taking place primarily in Budapest, Hungary, where elaborate sets were constructed to replicate the Swedish village setting. The production budget was approximately $9 million, relatively modest for a major studio release but sufficient to achieve the film's ambitious visual goals.

### Creative Team
The film's creative team brought together several key collaborators. Ari Aster served as both director and screenwriter, marking his second feature film after Hereditary. Pawel Pogorzelski, who had previously worked with Aster on Hereditary, served as cinematographer, creating the film's distinctive bright, sun-drenched visual style. The editing team consisted of Lucian Johnston and Jennifer Lame, with Lame having previously worked on Manchester by the Sea and later going on to edit Tenet. The score was composed by Bobby Krlic, known professionally as The Haxan Cloak, whose unsettling electronic and orchestral compositions became integral to the film's atmosphere.

### Cast and Performances
Florence Pugh stars as Dani Ardor, delivering a performance that garnered widespread critical acclaim and established her as a major talent in Hollywood. Jack Reynor plays Christian, Dani's boyfriend, while William Jackson Harper portrays Josh, a graduate student studying European midsummer traditions. Vilhelm Blomgren appears as Pelle, the Swedish exchange student who invites the group to the festival. Will Poulter plays Mark, Christian's friend whose behavior creates tension within the group. The cast also includes several Swedish actors in key roles, including Isabelle Grill as Maja and Gunnel Fred as Siv, adding authenticity to the film's portrayal of Swedish culture.

### Visual Style and Cinematography
Midsommar is notable for its distinctive visual approach, which subverts traditional horror aesthetics. Cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski employed bright, natural lighting throughout the film, with most scenes taking place in broad daylight. This approach created a disorienting contrast between the film's beautiful, sun-drenched visuals and its disturbing content. The camera work often utilized symmetrical compositions and slow, deliberate movements, drawing influence from directors like Stanley Kubrick and Ingmar Bergman. The production design featured elaborate floral arrangements, traditional Swedish costumes, and meticulously constructed sets that created an immersive, otherworldly atmosphere.

### Music and Sound Design
The film's score, composed by Bobby Krlic (The Haxan Cloak), plays a crucial role in establishing its unsettling atmosphere. The music combines electronic elements with traditional Scandinavian instruments and choral arrangements, creating a soundscape that is both beautiful and disturbing. The sound design incorporates diegetic music from the film's fictional cult, including the use of Swedish folk songs and original compositions that serve both narrative and atmospheric purposes. The music builds tension throughout the film, often using repetition and gradual escalation to create a sense of mounting dread.

### Cultural Elements and Research
Midsommar incorporates extensive research into Swedish midsummer traditions and pagan practices. While the film's cult is fictional, it draws from various historical and cultural sources, including Swedish folklore, Norse mythology, and documented pagan rituals. The production team consulted with Swedish cultural experts to ensure authenticity in the depiction of traditional costumes, architecture, and customs. However, the film takes significant creative liberties in constructing its fictional cult, blending various cultural elements to create a unique and unsettling mythology.

### Release and Distribution
The film premiered at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Los Angeles on June 18, 2019, before receiving its theatrical release. It opened in Sweden on July 3, 2019, and in the United States on July 18, 2019. A24 handled distribution in the United States, while other distributors handled international releases. The film was released in both standard theatrical format and an extended director's cut, which added approximately 30 minutes of additional footage and was released on home media.

### Critical Reception and Analysis
Midsommar received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its visual style, performances, and thematic depth. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an 83% approval rating based on 394 reviews, with the consensus stating it is "ambitious and impressively crafted – if not quite as scary as it thinks it is." Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 72 out of 100 based on 50 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews." Critics particularly praised Florence Pugh's performance, with many considering it a breakthrough role that established her as a major talent.

### Box Office Performance
The film was produced on a budget of $9 million and grossed approximately $47.9 million worldwide, making it a commercial success relative to its production costs. In the United States and Canada, the film earned $27.1 million, while international markets contributed $20.8 million to the total gross. The film's box office performance demonstrated that there was a significant audience for elevated horror that prioritized artistic ambition over conventional scares.

### Home Media and Extended Cut
Midsommar was released on digital platforms on September 24, 2019, and on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on October 8, 2019. The home media release included both the theatrical cut and an extended director's cut, which added approximately 30 minutes of additional footage. The extended cut provides more character development and expands on several plot elements, offering a more comprehensive viewing experience for fans of the film.

### Influence and Legacy
Midsommar has had a significant influence on contemporary horror cinema, particularly in the folk horror subgenre. Its success demonstrated that horror films could achieve both critical acclaim and commercial success while maintaining artistic ambition. The film's visual style has been widely imitated and referenced in subsequent horror productions, and its approach to blending psychological drama with horror elements has influenced numerous filmmakers. Midsommar also contributed to the growing recognition of horror as a legitimate form of artistic expression, helping to establish Ari Aster as one of the most prominent voices in modern horror cinema.

### Related Works and Connections
Midsommar exists within the broader context of Ari Aster's filmography, serving as his second feature film following Hereditary and preceding Beau Is Afraid. The film shares thematic concerns with Aster's other works, particularly in its exploration of grief, family dynamics, and psychological trauma. Within the horror genre, Midsommar connects to a tradition of folk horror films including The Wicker Man (1973), Kill List (2011), and The Witch (2015), while also influencing subsequent films in the subgenre.

### Technical Specifications
The film was shot digitally using Arri Alexa cameras with Panavision lenses, allowing for the precise control of lighting and color that characterizes its visual style. The aspect ratio is 2.00:1, providing a widescreen format that enhances the film's expansive visual compositions. The color grading emphasizes bright, saturated colors, particularly the use of white and yellow tones that create the film's distinctive sunlit aesthetic. The sound mix was completed in Dolby Atmos, providing an immersive audio experience that complements the film's unsettling atmosphere.

### Cultural Impact and Reception
Beyond its critical and commercial success, Midsommar has had a notable cultural impact, with several of its images and scenes becoming widely recognized and referenced in popular culture. The film's depiction of Swedish midsummer traditions, while fictional, sparked interest in actual Swedish cultural practices. The film has been the subject of extensive academic analysis and cultural criticism, with scholars examining its themes of grief, cultural appropriation, and the psychology of cult behavior. Midsommar has also inspired numerous think pieces, video essays, and academic articles that explore its complex themes and artistic achievements.

## References

1. Entertainment Identifier Registry
2. The Movie Database
3. Midsommar. Rotten Tomatoes
4. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/198182/terjesztett_filmalkotasok_art_filmek_nyilvantartasa.xlsx)
5. BBC Things
6. [Source](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/midsommar-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc00mdi0mze)
7. [Source](http://www.kijkwijzer.nl/index.php?id=26&i=1224740)
8. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
9. [Source](https://www.eirin.jp/list/index.php?s_year=2020&s_month=2&e_year=2020&e_month=2&pageID=2)
10. [Source](https://www.eirin.jp/list/index.php?s_year=2019&s_month=11&e_year=2019&e_month=11&pageID=2)
11. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/151257)
12. [Source](https://justica.gov.br/news/collective-nitf-content-1569333705.08)
13. Brazilian Advisory Rating System
14. [Source](https://infoicaa.mecd.es/CatalogoICAA/Peliculas/GetPdf?Pelicula=58619)
15. [Ari Aster's Midsommar](https://www.reddit.com/r/Midsommar/)
16. [Source](http://fpbquery.fpb.org.za/erms/film_details.aspx?ref=82998)
17. Bechdel Test Movie List
18. Midsommar
19. [Source](https://www.rcq.gouv.qc.ca/RCQ212AfficherFicheTech.asp?intNoFilm=418142)
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