THE SYMBOLS AT THEIR FEET β FF7R RESOLUTION SCENES [symbolism analysis]
In the resolution scenes, there are two similar shots of Tifa and Aerithβs feet. Since they both stood at Aerithβs garden, the backgrounds could have looked similar but they donβt. So, I think the devs intended to make 2 similar shots of Tifa and Aerithβs feet for us to notice the differences.
This is the shot of Tifaβs feet. You see mostly here 3-leaf clovers instead of the lilies. It does not mean that the lilies β reunion flowers are therefore not associated with Cloud & Tifa in this scene. This is a directional choice because when Tifa mentioned that the lilies were reunion flowers, there was a close-up shot of the lilies. This is to make sure that your attention was fully focused on the lilies and what she said when the lilies were finally shown up-close in the scene.
Itβs widely known that 4-leaf clovers represent good luck but the 3-leaf cloversβ meaning are not so popular. So I look up on the internet and find this on the Wikipedia page:
So basically, the 3-leaf clovers mean hope, faith, and love. The theme of βhope, faith, and loveβ seems to fit the overall love story of Cloud and Tifa in Final Fantasy VII perfectly. It also fits the resolution scene especially well because Tifa was talking about her hope for the lilies to stay alive, hope forΒ
happiness, and her lost beloved ones etc.
Iβve seen people trying to claim the lilies - reunion flowers are about Cloud and Aerith during the resolution scene because Tifa mentioned Aerithβs name when she started talking about the flowers and because you see the flowers at Aerithβs feet. In my opinion, itβs a misunderstanding for many reasons.
If the reunion flowers are associated with Cloud and Aerith, why wasnβt it mentioned directly on Aerithβs resolution scene via dialogue?
The reunion flowers were never shown in focus during Aerithβs resolution scene, either.
In this shot, you only see Aerithβs feet. If itβs meant to be the reunion of Cloud and Aerith, we should have seen both Cloud and Aerith feet.
Aerithβs feet are not surrounded by the reunion flowers in this shot. Technically, they are all surrounded by the reunion flowers (Cloud, Barret, Tifa, and Aerith during 3 resolution scenes), but the composition of this shot alone didnβt convey that image. You see Aerithβs feet at the foreground while the flowers are at the background.
Look at this example from Tifaβs resolution scene, you see the concept of Reunion completely here. Both Cloud and Tifaβs feet, because reunion are meant for at least two people, not one. You see the reunion flowers at the foreground, middleground, and background which simply mean the reunion flowers surrounded Cloud and Tifa. Even on this one, you see an abundant of 3-leaf clovers together with the reunion flowers? A Reunion for/because of Hope, Faith, and Love.
Then what is the meaning in Aerithβs shot? I notice that where Aerith stood, it is quite bare. I donβt know with better graphics how much detail we can see the texture but here you can definitely see a mixture in colors of the grass and the soil compared to the very green place where Tifa stood. A bare place with flowers? The concept immediately prompts the image of Zackβs grave in Final Fantasy VII Advent Children to me. Then here, Aerith told Cloud to not fall in love with her because it isnβt real.Β It doesnβt look like coincidence to me.
Check out my other analysis for FF7R:
TIFA AND THE MOON SYMBOL β WALL MARKET [symbolism analysis]
WHAT DID CLOUD CALL BEAUTIFUL? [cinematic analysis]
FF7 LTD: CLOUDβS TRUTH REVEALED - Chapter 10 [scenario analysis]
CLOUDβS 5 LANGUAGES OF LOVE FOR TIFA [just for fun]
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