The "rape" was the most important scene in the movie because it put a harsh spotlight on the very idea of victimization. What we have here is the complete breakdown of all the rules that society has placed on the natural urges to keep us from sexually violating one another. Sex, in its raw form, though highly desired is not necessarily pleasant, either in its commission or its consequence. Society, and to a certain extent, our biology, for all its faults, finds ways to curb these unpleasantries through a dance we partake in that is to one degree or another choreographed. Since desire rises as the dance progresses, it is usually regulated to keep it from going too far, especially for the inexperienced. In this film, it went too far, and with alcohol inhibiting the defenses, there will be a strong likelihood of sexual violence. Can we as a society expect youngsters who otherwise have no rules to govern their own behavior in this area avoid what we are by human nature are going to do? The only way out of this pickle if we must yield to the argument of freedom for our youngsters is not to make such a big deal out of it what with having legal sanctions against it, that is unless the violence does irreparable harm (and I don't mean the harm from shame), but rather that it merely be considered a life's lesson and the next time we should be more careful.
Note, this reasoning doesn't apply to adult child rapes, or any where there is a great difference in sexual experience, only to similarly aged and experienced youngsters. In this film one might say that there wasn't much difference in experience between the boys and the girls, but that masks the differences in the kind of experience they had up to that moment, which, of course is the point being made by the film. Thus, what we have here is the excitement driving the girls combined with the (by comparison) caution exhibited by the boys that when an "agreement" was reached, it turned out not to have been what each thought they agreed to. The question of rape is possible to consider but I think the film came to the conclusion in the only way it could. Let it be considered a life's lesson and move on. (The boys, however, weren't so fortunate and in any case had other issues.)
James
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