As much as I love many aspects of Secrets of Dumbledore, the omission of Gellert’s Crucioing of Aberforth really irritates me.
Albus’ account:
Aberforth’s (click to read):
Aberforth says -he and Gellert- were the first to pull their wands.
So, why the omission of Gellert’s role? “He just laughed.” Why would Albus keep that detail from Newt? Was it a Kloves and/or Yates choice or is there a reason why JKR wrote it that way?
I actually interpreted that as Albus inability to come to terms with the depths of Gellert’s cruelty and how horrible he really is even now. It’s interesting that he told Jacob that he didn’t intend for Gellert to torture Jacob and apologised but why? It’s Grindelwald. Surely he should have foreseen it?
I think there’s still a part of him that hasn’t fully come to terms with the dark side of the man he loves. I think there’s still room for Gellert to lose control and Crucio Aberforth after the brothers confront eachother with Gellert laughing initially.
I think Albus couldn’t tell Newt the rest cause Gellert torturing his brother is when he had to REALLY TRULY confront the darkness within Gellert and he just isn’t ready for it. It’s still too much years later. A darkness Albus has never fully reckoned with IMO because, from Albus’ point of view, how could he have misjudged someone that meant so much to him so badly? I think it’ll be a theme throughout the franchise with him confronting it head on before the duel and making a decision to confront him.
I agree. As I watch the movies, while I’d love to hear and see so much, I often keep in mind just how much this man kept to himself and never revealed up until the day he died. The title of this film reflects back to the very chapter many of these secrets were revealed and yet, in the film it’s not ALL revealed. Some more so (the true depths of their relationship is actually stated for example) but others less so (acceptance of what all happened the day they fell apart).
We are seeing the younger Dumbledore here. Not the older one who freely talks about WHY he refuses to ever be Minister of Magic or anything like that. I love that we are seeing a difference between the two time-frames of Dumbledore. Similar yet so different.
Considering how The Secrets of Dumbledore contrasts Theseus and Helmut, it is interesting to note the details of their costumes.
Theseus’ tie has a phoenix on it and it reflects his allegiance to this first version of the Order of the Phoenix. Helmut’s tie has the Knight’s Cross, which was one of the highest military honors in Nazi Germany during WWII. This is one of several nods throughout the movies that emphasize the inspiration that nazism and fascism have provided for the writing of Grindelwald’s cause.
In SoD Gellert approaches Albus and he makes clear that he WANTS his presense. But until the very end of the movie he does not show his vulnerability. He flirts, he shows irritation when things don’t go his way, he retaliates with bigoted comments, but until the ‘who will ove you now Dumbledore?’ he does not open up about his feelings; not even when Albus says that he was in love with him, which Gellert simply acknowledges as a fact. On the other hand Albus is very open about his emotions. He does not hide his vulnerability. But he witholds physical intimacy.
When we reach the peak of the duel, with the sound of their heartbeats and their hands over each other’s hear, Gellert’s eyes fall on the hands because he is given the touch that he’s been deprived of. On the contrary, Albus is fixed on Gellert’s face because he finally sees the other man’s honest yearning unfiltered and without any pose and pretenses.
After their hands drop, Gellert steps forward trying to close the space between them, still focused on touch and proximity. Albus steps back, but he still can’t take his eyes off Gellert’s vulnerable expression. This is not what REALLY happens as the actors perform, in the sense that the shots we see of the characters’ faces are not the result of a linear take, but in the final product Albus blinks ONCE in the span of one minute because he can’t stop taking in Gellert’s face. I’m telling you that’s NOT normal. I can’t stay unblinking for that long. These two have compromised me emotionally.
My interpretation of Yusuf’s loyalty was that even if he does not remember Leta, he still has a strong moral compass. And of course he can’t be tempted by blood-supremacist ideology because despite coming from an old pureblood family he has experienced how cruelty and entitlement can ruin lives.
Then the other day, I was watching this interview of William Nadylam the other day and he mentions that by the end we see that Yusuf does not forget (and on top of that he finds a new family). To me, the point about him not forgetting did not come across clearly, but I will take tha actor’s word for it.
This take is supported by a small piece of information in the Movie Magic book:
Carrying a photo of Leta could have lead to Yusuf remembering her.
With that in mind, when everyone gets their gifts, Yusuf gets nothing and there’s this small exchange:
Newt: And Kama…
Yusuf: I have what I need.
What Yusuf needed was this one physical anchor to Leta.
The idea of how ink/paint, memory and love connect reminds me of an HPCC quote that is probably one of my favorites in the entire series.
Albus Dumbledore: Those that we love never truly leave us, Harry. There are things that death cannot touch.Paint … and memory … and love.
I’m always amazed by the way themes are revisited throughout both franchised in beautiful ways. It’s a pity that Yusuf’s arc didn’t have more room to breath and to be properly developed. It’s one of the disadvantages of FB’s story being confined in the limits that movies entail. As much as I love the movies I kind of mourn all the beautiful details that are lost. I would love to indulge in the detailed storytelling that a book allows and then getting an adaptation.
A bebe, cradling a bebe, being watched over by a bebe. Newt is precious and must be protected at all costs and I will absolutely fight you if need be. That’s it. That’s the post.
Finally, I managed to jot down my thoughts on FB3. I’m going to keep it below the cut because I still don’t want to spoil people. Also, fair warning - if you’re not a fan of the film, or you’re boycotting it for whichever reason, please don’t bother reading this post. I am fine with anyone who has aspects of the film they didn’t like, but actual hateful words are not welcome here. Ever. My blog is not a place for you to speak out against the actors, or JKR, or Warner Brothers. I’m literally just discussing my thoughts on the film. That’s all that belongs in this post. Thank you.
Can we just… can we just take a moment and focus on how lovingly the qilin looks up at Newt while he’s cradling her? This isn’t just a magizoologist caring for a creature. This is a man protecting a child and it’s a beautiful sight. I don’t know how Eddie makes it so believable since he’s either cradling a green pillow or absolutely nothing for this moment, but I’m in love with it every time I see it.
can we all agree that this scene is simply EVERYTHING??? like the way theseus looks at newt in the end
The whole scene lives in my head rent-free. How he freezes mid-sentence when he sees her. The way he lights up when looks at her like she’s his whole world. How he noticed her hair. The way she swayed. How she giggled. How he put his hand on her waist. The way she eagerly said she’d see him inside.
The way Lally and Theseus both know what’s up lol. And Damn, Lally couldn’t have waited thirty seconds to show up though?
It’s only a minute and a half, but it’s beautiful and WORTH IT.
Some of my thoughts about Grindeldore in The Secrets of Dumbledore
So, im REALLY obsessed with this movie and i wrote some of my thoughts and i decided put it here.
First of all, english is not my native language, so im so sorry for any mistake, and obviously, in this post there are spoilers. LETS GO
The Restaurant scene
Their smiles kill me btw
I love the restaurant scene for how Gellert insists over and over that it was both planning a revolution, that Albus not only followed him because they were in love, because HE helped make their plans and HE turned his back on them. Phrases like “It was you who said we can reshape the world” and“Committed to me, to US” it makes that clear
I think that Gellert was so angry with Albus because, in his perspective, he went on with his life as if nothing happened and that bothers him, he has so much anger and bitterness in his heart that he doesn’t see beyond appearances
He doesn’t want Albus to make excuses, he wants the Albus he MET in 1899 in his side , but he hasn’t realized of THAT Albus died with Ariana and only at the end does he realize that Albus left his arms forever
And Albus, this is where I asked myself what was his point in being there, did he just want to try and convince Gellert to break the pact or did he want to see if there was a way to deal with this situation without breaking it? Albus doesn’t want to let Gellert go either (even though he knows that isn’t the Gellert he fell in love with anymore), he wants to save Gellert and try to save what they have.
Gellert was hurt after Albus said“We can free each other”,which is why i think he acts so mean to Albus in the rest of the scene (and in the movie!). Gellert loves and cares about the pact, he carried the Troth with him everywhere for about 28 years, that he had it in a chest pocket, that he sacrificed and risked his escape in order to get it back at the start of COG, it’s very obvious that. I think he uses the pact all the time because it’s a palpable reminder of the one time he felt understood and loved by an equal. He uses it because it makes him feel close to Albus.
This scene was perfect, and I thanks so much to Jude and Mads performace <3
How they talked about the other in the movie
Someone doesnt feels weird the way they talked about the other with another people in the movie? Like, sometimes it feels like their relantionships was not a secret. Gellert explicity admits to his acolites and Kama he knew and was a Dumbledore´s close friend.
I personally think that Gellert doesnt hide their relationship to anyone, he is very pround and selfish about their conextion (another reason for he posibble cares so much about the troth!). But Albus is the contrarian.
He talks about his realantionship but with a few people, talks about it with Thesus but only for convinced him. And says THREE times he loved Gellert (and one of it was to Gellert himself).
ALSO, Gellert and Albus are so obsessed with each other in the movie, like Albus mentions their love every time he can and Gellert have visions about Albus and look at him with the most look of longing have ever see, THEY’RE OBSESSED WITH EACH OTHER AND I LOVE IT!!
For next, my favorite part of the movie
The almost duel
Frist of all, THE SOUNDTRACK OF THS SCENE IS PRECIOUS AND GORGEOUS, thank you James Newton Howard.
And then, can we talk about Gellert’s face in this frame and how he trembles at the mere thought of touching Albus after 30 years and realizing he can’t hurt him because he still loves him so deeply?
When they put their hands on each other’s hearts, Albus keeps his hand outstretched, Gellert presses his hand to Albus’s chest as if he wants to hold on to it, trembles at the thought of hurting him and clings to him in the face of it. His face of him is one of absolute despair, this is the moment where they realize that their destiny is inevitable and that they will repeat this duel one day.
Now something that I find interesting is how Gellert trembles at the idea and lets his guard down for a moment, and Albus holds his wand up, he doesn’t like the idea, but he’s more determined to do it, that’s the moment where he chooses to do what is right and not what is easy.
And Albus, he doesn’t even know how to feel about all of this. Should he feel angry with Gellert for left him? Should he be glad that he was stopped in that summer in the worst way possible? Would he be willing to give up the best two months of his life for his sister? He can hurt to the man he loves?
They both love each other, but that is the moment where they have lost each other and their reactions to it kill me. Gellert seeks to emotionally harm Albus and Albus just walks away, he does not seek to harm Gellert with his action from him, but the fact that he turns his back on him and shows a certain indifference after tremendous emotional shock hurts Gellert more and seeks to harm Albus more with his next action
“Who will love you now Dumbledore?, you’re all alone” Those words seem more directed at himself than at Albus, he feels alone, and the only proof that someone really loved him lies broken on the ground.
It is also interesting how Gellert goes from calling him “Albus”at the beginning of the film to calling him “Dumbledore” at the end of it
I think Albus was more prepared for the idea of confronting him, from the beginning he raises the idea of getting rid of the troth and Gellert is resistant to the idea, he doesn’t want to, it is the only physical proof he has of his and he clings to it. Item.
Gellert is an emotional wreck and unlike Albus, he doesn’t have people who love and support him unconditionally, he’s alone.
He is a man who does not know how to deal with strong emotions (and it has been shown since fbwtft) and that is his greatest weakness. Dumbledore always talks about how love is the most powerful magic because he thinks it is what we don’t know. He doesn’t even feel lovable, but he keeps thinking about it.
And every day I am more convinced that Gellert’s feelings for Albus are the reason why he loses THE duel, that Gellert’s love for him is enough for him to repent and let him win, and thats why Albus locks Gellert in Nurmergard, because he has faith that he will regret it because he already showed signs of it
The end of the movie
“I was never your enemy…” says Gellert to the public, and then proceed to searchAlbus,look at him to the eyes and says “…then or now”
I was speechless at first, THIS MAN hurts Albus firts and he feels betrayed and emotionally hurt by him, BUT HE STILL WANTS ALBUS ON HIS SIDE. I HAVE NO WORDS FOR THAT.
The end of the movie is so sad, Albus promeses to Thesues find and captured Gellert after have that moment is so hurtful. See the pact broken is a hurtful pain and he cant explain that.
(btw Newt is a great friend for Albus in this movie, all the time he helps and supports because he knows that this hurts him, he doesn’t judge him and that’s why i adore Newt so much)
At the very end see Albus seeing the wedding was so sad, i cant belived how that scene is so painful and so happy and the same time. I actually refuse to belive that they dont invite Albus to the wedding, but the fact that he stays alone in the street see something that nows it will never be able to live it’s a very hurtful moment, and a very sad ending for him.
Want to see those two bonding and Theseus babysit the Quilin?? Then hop off into my bio and click on my link tree. I added the deleted scenes someone uploaded on twitter It’s not the best quality but it’s better than nothing
