Rewatching "The Sacrifice" - That Tree Still Gets Me

Okay, so I just finished yet another rewatch of "The Sacrifice." I know, I know, some people find it slow and bleak, but I swear, every time I watch it I notice something new. This time, it was the details in the sound design during the initial announcement of the war. It's so subtle, the way the party music kind of distorts and fades into this low hum of impending doom. It really underscores Alexander's complete breakdown. And that tree scene! I can't even. Every time, I'm holding my breath, praying he'll actually manage to get it planted before he's interrupted. It's so stressful! I know it's supposed to be symbolic, but the sheer physical exertion on Erland Josephson's face is just incredible acting. I was wondering if anyone else picked up on the odd interaction between Alexander and Victor. I know Victor's supposed to be the voice of reason (or maybe lack of it) but there is something quite sinister about him. I was also thinking about is the complete ambiguity in the film. Did he actually succeed? Did his sacrifice actually do anything? Maybe that's the point, though, right? It's not about knowing for sure, it's about the act of faith itself. I also wanted to add that I saw online that the director was actually the actor who played Alexander. Pretty amazing. What are all your thoughts?