Kites

The kites are symbolic of the transitory nature of Rune’s visit. It is as though he arrives on the wind and then moves through the town when he is ready to leave. As long as Rune is there, he is able to keep the kite up learning about Alec from all the stories of the townspeople.

Blue Candle

The blue candle that Virgil lights for his parents symbolizes the influence of loss on his life. As a young man, Virgil struggled with the loss of his parents and turns to different theologies for explanation. The one constant Virgil has is the candle ritual that Virgil learned from a girl who was a practicing Catholic. The candle is a meditation on loss, which is why Virgil also turns to the candle when Josephine goes missing.

Derailment

The derailment is symbolic of Virgil getting stuck in one...