Pedophilia?


Was Edmond's old teacher and those with whom he lived inappropriately touching/kissing Edmond, or is that the way it was in the 1940s or in Europe?

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Clearly, just pedophilia.

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I found the end rather more shocking. I guess suicide doesn't bother most of you as much as pedophilia.

Frankly, the point of the movie was to be shocking. You are supposed to be shocked.

The images are designed to stay with you.

You may feel like you have been inappropriately touched by the director. Go take a shower. It won't help.

There is nothing you can do. The images were supposed to shock you.


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I took it as pedophilia, but also the teacher's hope that the "master race" could succeed in the future. I'm not sure how the doctor fits into the scenario. The "Boys from Brazil" and these scenes seemed linked in their themes.

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"or is that the way it was in the 1940s or in Europe?"

Just what is that supposed to mean?

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Presumably it refers to the different cultural attitudes regarding displays of affection, particularly between males. Some, especially the Anglo-American varieties, are quite restrained, while some are more comfortable about it. The casual French and Italians pecks on the cheek, for example.

Also, different historical periods have treated male friendship differently, such as the so-called "romantic friendships" of the 18th century.

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But why is it that every single man on that building looked like a pedophile? I guess some three different men tried to touch Edmund when he first went there.

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The teacher and the man in the white suit are to be read as pedophiles. The post war city undoubtedly had them but Rossellini is indulging in a cheap trick here, suggesting tha the Nazis were all sex perverts. Some were, most weren't. The libel is repeated in ROME OPEN CITY. A similar character appears in a later film THE CONFORMIST. It remains a favorite topic among some left (and right) wing authors. See THE PINK SWASTIKA by notorious homophobe Scott Lively(godfather of Uganda's "Kill the Gays" law) for a fairly recent anti-gay book.,,or take my word for it and avoid that poisonous publication.

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Seemed like a cheap trick to me as well. It was pretty unexpected and then left wondering why that was put in. All in all a tactic that should be left in 1948!

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sure seemed like it.

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