Wagner's Liebestod in "Aria" (1987)

We watched this scene in class last week and it was one of those things that you see and then continue thinking about. I was confused but also intrigued; who are these people? What led them to be seemingly running away together? And of course, why did they decide to commit suicide together? The scene gave me chills which didn't dissipate quickly and sent my mind reeling for hours after. The questions came together as the director surely intended as did the haunting feeling which stuck with me afterward. What made the scene truly eerie was the choice of music. It is interesting that the song came from Tristan and Isolde, so it seems in some way these characters are meant to depict that tragic couple though obviously their stories are quite different. The director, Frank Roddam did a great job of creating mood and meaning through this piece of art.