Midsommar Ending Explained: Why Was Dani Chosen?

In the climactic conclusion of Ari Aster's Midsommar, the serene facade of the Swedish commune, Harga, unravels into a chilling ritual. The film follows Dani's emotional odyssey after the tragic loss of her family, intertwined with the disintegration of her relationship with Christian. As the outsiders, including Dani and Christian, become entangled in the sinister customs of Harga, the narrative takes a surreal turn.

The final act sees Dani crowned as the May Queen after winning a maypole dancing competition, while Christian, seduced and drugged, succumbs to a ritualistic mating ceremony. Heartbroken and betrayed, Dani witnesses Christian's infidelity, triggering an emotional release. In a stark departure from earlier scenes where she grieves in isolation, the Harga community surrounds her, echoing her cries. This communal expression of pain hints at the film's central theme of shared emotion.

The revelation unfolds that the outsiders, including Christian, were brought to Harga for a grand, once-every-90-years midsummer celebration that concludes with ritualistic sacrifices. The outsiders who had "disappeared" earlier have already been sacrificed, and the finale demands two volunteers from the village and one additional sacrifice. Dani, now the May Queen, is given the choice to pick Christian or a lottery-selected villager. In a moment fueled by grief and bitterness, she selects Christian.

The sacrificial climax sees Christian placed inside a bear carcass alongside the other outsiders, all set within a temple that is ceremoniously set ablaze. As the villagers mimic the agonizing cries of those burning inside, Dani's initial horror transforms into a smile, aligning herself with the communal jubilation.

The ending of Midsommar is a complex tapestry of symbolism and psychological exploration. Throughout the film, subtle clues, such as the paintings in Dani's apartment and the emphasis on communal expressions of emotion, foreshadow the transformative journey she undergoes.

Dani's initial isolation in grief, symbolized by her family's tragic death, mirrors classic fairy tale beginnings. The Harga community, with its emphasis on togetherness and shared emotion, becomes Dani's unconventional but deeply resonant family. The climax, though gruesome, signifies Dani's liberation from the emotional burdens tethered to Christian.

Aster weaves a narrative where Dani's worst "affekts," her affections and emotions tied to Christian, are purged through the ritual. Christian, the "ideal astrological match" for Maja, serves as a vessel for cleansing the Harga community of its "worst affekts." In choosing Christian for the sacrifice, Dani not only severs her ties with him but also embraces the communal values of Harga.

The film's conclusion invites interpretations rooted in folklore and psychological symbolism. Dani's journey, from a grieving outsider to the smiling May Queen, encapsulates the film's exploration of empathy, shared pain, and the quest for belonging. Midsommar's enigmatic ending, although disturbing, leaves viewers with a poignant reflection on the complexities of human relationships and the cathartic power of shared emotion.