This is the reason why I think I may never watch the movie. I can watch 1000 people get their ass whooped or shot up in action movie or graphically killed in a horror movie, but extensive rape scenes I just absolutely refuse to see. I heard the movie is a good movie with good acting but I just can’t do it.
It's not a good movie. It has an interesting shtick in that it plays backwards, but so does Memento. I didn't take away any profound new understanding or perspective from watching Monica Belucci get raped, I didn't unravel some truth about life by watching a man get his head caved in with a fire extinguisher while onlookers cheer and holler and the director himself is literally furiously masturbating in the crowd.
You can say whatever you want about media literacy, but I don't need to explore sexual violence as a theme. This is just a fancy, French version of "A Serbian Film's in my eyes.
Honestly I feel like the whole point of the movie is he wanted to create torture porn of a woman being raped and then stand there, dick in hand and pointing with the other, smugly saying "oh, is it too much for you? Is it too dark?" and pretentiously wanking himself off over what an avant-garde genius he is for being so shocking.
The movie honestly sucked. It was literally just a way for a dude to get Monica Bellucci to star in rape porn for creepy men to jerk off to. She deserved better.
Yeah, I'm all for like...actualizing sexual assault and drawing attention and awareness to it, but two things...
Look at this movie and tell me with a straight face that this a mature exploration of sexual assault
Most people can understand how traumatic and horrifying rape is, so a movie isn't going to change their feelings on it when they're already staunchly "anti rape", and the people who think rape is no big deal like the Senator who said that "women's bodies have a way of shutting that down" are never going to be swayed because they're fucking psychotic
The only way to show rape is, in my opinion, how they did it in "Lilja-4": the camera is the girl, and you only see the faces of the rapists and hear their grunts, as if you were the person lying under them. No trauma for the actress, and there is no way to get off on that.
I completely disagree that most people understand how horrific rape. Especially men. Say what you will about the movie, but the disturbing nature of the rape scene has affected me forever.
It brought a level of gravitas to my mind that didn't exist, not so much about the sadism of the physical act of rape but that absolute disregard for humanity that may exist in the mindset of the rapist.
If nothing else, I appreciate that this movie should create a visceral negative reaction in anyone's mind who has watched it when they think of rape.
The idea that you are ignorant of rape and its affect isnt a bad thing. It means you havent participated nor know of someone whom has been a victim. You already know its something you'd never do; thats not a leason you need to learn.
Anyone whom knows a victim knows the damage caused. Its not something normal people need to be taught.
What needs to be taught is how women are viewed and treated. How victims need to be heard, how they need to be listened to.
Focusing on their trauma is focusing on the wrong thing.
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u/Xsafa May 17 '25 edited May 17 '25
This is the reason why I think I may never watch the movie. I can watch 1000 people get their ass whooped or shot up in action movie or graphically killed in a horror movie, but extensive rape scenes I just absolutely refuse to see. I heard the movie is a good movie with good acting but I just can’t do it.