This film is a masterpiece, if only for the fact that every single detail is there for a reason. Nothing is left to chance (based on a few other reviews for this film, this fact seems not be clear to all reviewers - e.g., one reviewer asks why did the film have to take place in slaughterhouse?).
The title says it all, Body and Soul. Endre is the Soul - throughout the film we are witness to his sensitive nature / soul toward others. Right at the beginning he says that possibly Maria is shy, he does not go downstairs to the slaughterhouse (to protect himself? only when Maria arrives does he start going down - to this cold clinical place without soul), he tells a new employee that if he cannot feel for the animals, he will go crazy, the attempts not to hurt others (apologizes profusely after looking at breasts of psychologist, and many other examples). Maria is cold, without sensitivity, and thus she can work downstairs in the slaughterhouse. To work in the slaughterhouse, you need to cut off your sensitivities / emotions, otherwise you will not cope (thus the genius of the setting). Maria has an ability to understand people from physical features, reading faces, and in the scene with the cleaner, it is emphasized what a beautiful body she has. However, her damaged soul prevents her from touch with others. She seeks this soul warmth (e.g., allowing the sun to touch her skin).
Endre is physically handicapped, Maria is "soul" handicapped (there are so many examples of this in film). Toward the end we see and hear the ultimate polarity of the two characters, when both are close to death, Maria physically experiencing it and Endre experiencing it on a soul level. The beauty is that this polarity can become united.
The title says it all, Body and Soul. Endre is the Soul - throughout the film we are witness to his sensitive nature / soul toward others. Right at the beginning he says that possibly Maria is shy, he does not go downstairs to the slaughterhouse (to protect himself? only when Maria arrives does he start going down - to this cold clinical place without soul), he tells a new employee that if he cannot feel for the animals, he will go crazy, the attempts not to hurt others (apologizes profusely after looking at breasts of psychologist, and many other examples). Maria is cold, without sensitivity, and thus she can work downstairs in the slaughterhouse. To work in the slaughterhouse, you need to cut off your sensitivities / emotions, otherwise you will not cope (thus the genius of the setting). Maria has an ability to understand people from physical features, reading faces, and in the scene with the cleaner, it is emphasized what a beautiful body she has. However, her damaged soul prevents her from touch with others. She seeks this soul warmth (e.g., allowing the sun to touch her skin).
Endre is physically handicapped, Maria is "soul" handicapped (there are so many examples of this in film). Toward the end we see and hear the ultimate polarity of the two characters, when both are close to death, Maria physically experiencing it and Endre experiencing it on a soul level. The beauty is that this polarity can become united.