Geraniums

Geraniums are a symbol of everything that Emilie had in the past but has now lost. When she lived with Erich in their apartment on Fribourgstrasse she grew geraniums on the balcony and there were geraniums present on their trip to Davos as well, on which Emilie looked back with fondness. Gustav is acutely aware of Emilie’s bitterness over the loss of her balcony and geraniums and, therefore, decides that he will not mention it to Emilie when he visits Anton’s family on Fribourgstrasse and sees Adriana’s window box of geraniums.

Kitchen Shelf

The shelf in the kitchen that Emilie and Gustav use as a dining table and that Gustav uses as a desk during his lessons with Max Hodler, is symbolic of their poverty. Later in life, when Gustav owns the hotel and Emilie dines there with him in the evenings, Emilie...