MovieChat Forums > Six Feet Under (2001) Discussion > did olivier rape russell?

did olivier rape russell?

posted 8 years ago by anni_boo
3 replies | jump to latest

i always thought that maybe russell wanted to 'expiriment' to see if he was really gay, but when you really come down to it, he was drugged and drunk and olivier has this total sadistic power trip going on.. the way russell felt after, it was like he totally blamed himself but i dunno. i just thought, watching it this time around, that claire might have over reacted when she broke up with him. like okay, dump him if you want but you know what your instructor is like with his head games and pushiness.

i don't know. am i wrong with this?

[–] jpmontague 8 years ago

It seems to me like one of those cases you'd have no chance of securing a criminal conviction (victim is of age and technically gave consent, nor does he outright deny willingness afterwards), but was definitely a case of power abuse and manipulation.

Claire definitely should have been able to empathise, having witnessed Olivier's sleaziness first-hand, but I think this was one of her first steps towards rejecting the boundary-less bohemian lifestyle and finding her happy medium, so it was essential to the character that she end the relationship.

[–] anni_boo 8 years ago

i agree to your logic completely.

definite abuse of power
essential to end relationship, but she could have been nicer for sure!

[–] mswanberg-72405 8 years ago

I don't think so. I do think that it was possible but more likely was consentual!