Strange and Rather Pervy Details Surrounding this Film
First, I want to say that I love much about this film. I've been a fan for a long, long time. But, I do want to point out some strange and undeniably pervert-ish things about the film, which really do have an influence on it overall.
1. Opening sequence - the man on the train videotaping Lucy (who later turns out to be Carlo, Lucy's mom's good friend) videotapes her without her consent or knowledge - then drops the tape on her literally as the train pulls away and she has no chance to confront him. He wouldn't have known she was Sarah's daughter at the time. Both scary and threatening, plus pervy.
2. Lucy and Alex's conversation - when he first knocks on the door, Lucy is masturbating. Soon after they meet outside, Alex seems very comfortable cozying up to Lucy, caressing her leg as they talk. (Okay, but a bit strange). The conversation turns to sex, which again, is strange, but not outrageously so - just kind of strange for a man of his age and a girl of her age. Then just before she leaves, he gives her lighter back to her, but not before taking her hand and giving it a good whiff (presumably to smell her "essence" from masturbation on her hand). It's also a subtle reference to bodily fluids, which play a larger role in this film.
3. Miranda and Richard's first sex scene. As Lucy eavesdrops on Miranda and Richard having sex (kinda pervy anyway) she is heard first saying "I love to *beep* my little pumpkin", presumably referring to her genitalia. She is heard saying "yes, yes, yes, as he says "Poop is *beep* pumpkin", when suddenly she starts adamantly saying "no, no, no, no" - indicating that he tries at least to enter her poop chute, which she does not approve of. In the midst of this they are interrupted, so the scene never reveals what happens regarding this - but later there is more that reveals this is probably the case.
4. The general obsession with Lucy's dating status in the adult's conversation (which is discussed later but really still is strange in general).
5. The losing virginity conversation after the dinner party, which is okay, but in context with everything else seems a bit obsessive as well.
6. The desire of Ian to have Lucy reveal her breast - which in context with the film's theme of her being his daughter seems a bit strange and pervy, since he gives many clues throughout the film that he is aware she is his daughter, tho she doesn't know until the very end. I will say that from an artist's viewpoint the exposed breast is artistic, and so I'm willing to cut him some slack on this one - but it supposedly is his daughter, and he supposedly knows it, so it is rather weird in context.
7. Niccolo's attempted conquest of Lucy. She has to remove him off of her by force after saying no many times. Very, very close to a rape scenario. Also, what's with the armpit licking? Ewww. Again with the bodily fluids...
8. The woman at the party peeing. This has been discussed ad nauseum, but still bears mentioning. The woman does this to shock Lucy while also revealing that Carlo is into "water sports" sexually. People have asked why this was in the film, but she is enacting a subtle revenge on Carlo for his presumably bad treatment of her, while also revealing his sexual proclivities.
9. Richard and Miranda Part Deux - Richard forces Miranda to watch as Lucy stages her "makeout session" outside, to which Miranda is disgusted - and then as she tries to turn away, forces her onto the bed for sex - which on the surface could be excused as consensual if they like "rough play", but she seems still genuinely scared. Then later it appears that Richard is very forcefully entering Miranda, (presumably again in the poop chute) as she has a horrible, almost terrified look on her face. Shortly after, she is still absolutely furious with him and decides to leave him for good - which could easily be understood given the circumstances described as a last straw. I believe this film portrays his anal rape of Miranda.
10. The unnecessary shots of Lucy and Oswaldo making love, which didn't need to be so graphic in nature - not a crime in itself, but doesn't help the overall pervy theme going down throughout the film.
Some may disagree with these points - but after watching this film many, many times, it's hard not to come to these conclusions regarding these scenes. If you watch with these points in mind, you will have a better understanding of why I say these things. At it's core, this film deals with some very, very mature themes including sex, voyeurism, anal sex, loss of virginity, rape, and paternity. It's easy to overlook some of these things on first or second viewing, but as you become intimately familiar with the film, it's dialog and the way the actors portray the scenes, these themes do reveal themselves more readily.