Richard,
Interesting info here, especially the angle on the actual shooting of the film an this scene. It explains a lot about what we see.
But I am not sure it totally explains the edit choices.
To be clear they had to have been conscious that the way Callie looked as the scene neared the end would be noticed. Now, that doesn't make their choice invalid, to me, and not because I think rape victims enjoy being raped. It has I think more to do with the general sense in which the townspeople know they are guilty, and what might be the connection between that sense of guilt and what possible penalty, or penance, they must pay.
Take the scene where Belding sees how his hotel has been damaged by the explosion in the Stranger's room. He says something like "They told me they wouldn't damage the hotel..." and cuts himself off when he realizes the Stranger has heard what he said. When he does he has a guilty expression, says nothing. Soon the Stranger tells him he will be staying in the Beldings' bedroom, and drags Sarah there. Belding is unhappy of course, and to some extent his doing nothing is based on the obvious fear that he could not defeat the Stranger, one on one. But I think there is also an element of acceptance of his fate, of his penance.
This is really a theme central to the film. The whole middle third consists of the townspeople shown accepting the price the Stranger requires they pay to him and to those the Stranger chooses to benefit, and why? Because they know their complicity in Duncan's death and the attempt to hide the true ownership of the mine not only require it, but more than that they know on some level that they are so required because what they did was wrong.
Callie's backstory is not evident so early in the film when the encounter in the barn occurs. But even by then we see how she initiated the encounter and tried to intimidate the Stranger. Yes, today we accept that that does not mean she gave away her right to say no and what that would mean. But she also knew not only that she had initiated the encounter, but about her own backstory that we learn more of as the film progresses.
We soon see her go to the barbershop with a pistol, ineffectively (why so ineffective? but I digress) firing at the Stranger. Why? I think it clear she is making an attempt to get some measure of respect back from the rest of the townspeople, which we have reason to believe is a foolish goal on her part. The only people who seem to go along with her are the driver of the wagon, who I think it clear hopes to obtain something, probably sexual favors, from her. And later when Mort comes up with a plan to kill the Stranger in order to be rid of him and avoid paying him.
What I hope I am saying is the whole encounter we come to see in Callie's mind is tied up with her own guilt, her own penance for past misdeeds, recognition of her own moral failures, but all coupled with an angry pushing back in order to obtain some respect that she does not get.
When Mordecai later says after her failed attempt to shoot the Stranger "Maybe it's because you didn't go back for more." that at first sounds like a general comment about women and rape. But I think the better understanding is that Mordecai is saying that is Callie we are talking about, not women in general. He seems to be referring to her past.
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