Obviously she is put into a coma, but will she survive? I can't remember how in depth they go regarding this. If you feel it's too ambiguous, what do you feel will most likely be her fate?
"We're not supposed to talk about it."
This is a question that I hoped would be answered in the film, but as is usually the case with Noe's work, the ambiguity is what keeps the story alive in your head long after viewing. Here's what I decided in my own head!
From a purely physical point of view, the beating that followed the rape was incredibly severe and all focused on her face and head. I would think it very unlikely that there would be no lasting damage ... and the paramedics do specify that she is in a coma, rather than being knocked unconscious, the difference being response to certain stimuli.
In the case of blunt trauma to the head, coma can be instant and would likely be diagnosed at the scene by lack of eye opening, verbal response or motor response to verbal and physical stimuli.
Coma can be the body's way of preserving energy to heal injuries and, if we assume that none of the blows to the head on the concrete floor actually fractured her skull, recovery is possible, but not certain.
Additionally, the health of the baby would likely be uncompromized, as none of the attack focused on her midsection.
But ...
From the point of view of the movie's overall message, I think that we are to believe that the attack left her in an unrecoverable state. That is to say, her injuries are irreversible.
The main events within the plot are all based around things that change a person permanently. Finding you are pregnant, being brutally attacked and raped, finding that the woman you love has BEEN attacked and raped and of course, hunting down who you believe to be the rapist and murdering him.
Thematically, it follows that Alex's injuries are permanent and that, at best she is left brain damaged, if she even survives.
This would further serve to point out the pointlessness of the revenge attack, adding to the fact the we know they killed the wrong guy - and the chronological device that showed us that attack before we knew the provocation, giving us a more unbiased view of the murder.
Great response!
"We're not supposed to talk about it."
Interesting analysis however I stick to my theory of Alex Monica waking up to a dream and a reverse in the direction of the story telling. Read here http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290673/board/thread/242216986
shareThe movie really gives no idea of what her fate is, but during the compleately cringe-worthy rape scene There was at least one very serious kick to her stomach, I would assume she miscarried the baby.
shareThe movie really gives no idea of what her fate is, but during the compleately cringe-worthy rape scene There was at least one very serious kick to her stomach, I would assume she miscarried the baby.
I LIKE to think she survived of course, but .... it's probably nor likely after that hellacious beating. Though some believe that last shot breaks from the reverse-chronological narrative of the rest of the film and is actually supposed to be set after all the horrible events prior to it.
"I love a coward!"
Which makes no sense, by the way.
shareno, unless there was something in that last scene to show it happened AFTER, some date indicator, the kid running around etc, then that was the earliest scene when she had found out about the baby.
the last thing said to her was "I'm done with you" & "you're dead meat" as she is the plot device for the movie, yeah she's done.
Would be nice if someone could ask via twitter or email, & we could know for sure.
based on how the screen goes ,into this sorta weird fade of lights and sound..she 'enters the void" and dies (maybe she is reincarnated somewhere or not) ..which leads to the next movie, enter the void..about death
shareComa, miscarriage and probably some sort of brain damage.
share