Something tells me that Connie was raped. So, is the ending trying to teach us that she had to be raped to appreciate her family more? Like she's punished for feeling any sort of disdain towards them and she gets what she deserves? I hate it in movies and TV shows that they have a person raped as a way of teaching them a lesson.
sharefrom a different view:
I've seen this film twice, and neither time gave me the impression she got what she deserved. not even close. it's been a while, but I felt the vibe of "stuff happens and there are consequences that affect feelings toward her family and her own maturity." good or bad, movies don't always show us good. This felt like a slice of someone's life, kinda how it happened for them -- poor choices were made -- perspectives were reevaluated.
It's been a while since I saw it, but that was what I recall.
Was she "raped"? Probably by legal definition. Alternatively, if you were sexually active (knew which sex you were) in high school, you were prone to stuff like this all the time. Many women were "active" with fellow teens, and some older guys because that is what is designed in NATURE, not in laws to contain society.
She was kinda quickly groomed as they call it, and made choices with her body that maybe at the time she thought would be okay, during that coming of age time frame. Was he bad? Yes. So are all boys who look at Playboys at age 11, kids who play doctor, or play seven minutes in heaven in a closet, or take advantage of the drunk chick at a party BECAUSE she is drunk and touching you and laughing "Use me, don't abuse me"... real life happens out there, this was a sliver one's life, fictional probably, based on real events probably.
I don't know.... .is playing doctor consensually at age 8 rape when both parties want to? just food for thought.