And some not so great editing..
Listening to a q&a with the director, seems her focus was on the empowerment of women (the last subtitle reads, to all girls who resist), and the play of light and dark. The girls were often shown in their white nightgowns, so we know who the light is. This could have gone so far as to an "all men are evil", but with Stella befriending the kids on the outside, thankfully that wasn't part of the theme.
Actually, did the father need to be part of the story at all? Stella's character had enough emotional conflicts, brave to go outside, brave to take chances, wanting to connect with others her age, greedy and selfish to experience life outside and lie to her siblings, but also loving towards them, then jealous of them...
The editing/continuity was really off on an important scene, or the result of the scene.. the blood splatter on the kitchen wall wasn't even close to the results of mom being stabbed. Was there even any blood on the wall during that? Nope.
The cinematography was good, the lighting and weird set design and props added to the mystery. It is noted that was purposely done so the viewer would have no concept of what time/year it was.
The father character still bugs me. I understand the need for a male figure in the house, but It could have been a brother instead. With the father, the "loving" his daughters a little too much is present and as we find out late in the film, did happen. So, who's story should we be focusing on? The father's story and back story are complex, disturbing, and unclear. There is no explanation for any of the events that happen, so theres a lot to either guess or just let slide. At least with Stella's actions, you get a sense of what is going on with her.
Questions that I have, but don't even matter: How long have the girls been inside? Why doesn't Stella ask questions about the sun to people she meets outside? Did no one ever visit the house? Was there no one outside that wondered what happened to the family? And, of course, how did Stella go from being stabbed and bleeding to rescuing the others and climbing the staircase to the attic with no additional blood on her nightgown?
The editing/continuity was really off on an important scene, or the result of the scene.. the blood splatter on the kitchen wall wasn't even close to the results of mom being stabbed. Was there even any blood on the wall during that? Nope.
The cinematography was good, the lighting and weird set design and props added to the mystery. It is noted that was purposely done so the viewer would have no concept of what time/year it was.
The father character still bugs me. I understand the need for a male figure in the house, but It could have been a brother instead. With the father, the "loving" his daughters a little too much is present and as we find out late in the film, did happen. So, who's story should we be focusing on? The father's story and back story are complex, disturbing, and unclear. There is no explanation for any of the events that happen, so theres a lot to either guess or just let slide. At least with Stella's actions, you get a sense of what is going on with her.
Questions that I have, but don't even matter: How long have the girls been inside? Why doesn't Stella ask questions about the sun to people she meets outside? Did no one ever visit the house? Was there no one outside that wondered what happened to the family? And, of course, how did Stella go from being stabbed and bleeding to rescuing the others and climbing the staircase to the attic with no additional blood on her nightgown?
