I disagree. I can say with confidence that I am no pedophile...in fact that is exactly why I was concerned for the little actresses in this movie. I have only seen half of it, I was just watching it now and I've about had enough, it's creey as hell in a very disturbing way and I usually love foreign and "artsy" films that explore more than American movies. The parts with the girls doing hoolahoops and swinging their hips around...I mean, yeah TECHNICALLY I guess they are doing that just as any little girl would swing a hoolahoop, but the way it is filmed and focused on, there is NO QUESTION in my mind that there is an underlying sensuality going on with the little girls, with their nakedness and playing with eachother, etc.
And I haven't even seen the parts that were mentioned which seem to actually technically constitute definite sexuality by the way you talked about them. Maybe even then you cannot prove it because there is no physicality that can definitely be called sexual movement but by the way you describe it, it is obviously iMPLIED heavily, and come on, we are adults here, we're not stupid and at this point WE do understand sexuality, unlike these girls..I don't believe I'm paranoid I've seen little girls play and it isn't so much what they did but the way it was filmed...I was genuinely concerned for these little actresses, they don't even understand yet exactly what they are playing. They are exploring their own sexuality at this time, and it doesn't need to be filmed. Anyway it's not like they are toddlers, 2 or 3 years olds frolicking nakedly and "innocently"....yes, they are very young, but even 5 and 6 year olds are already discovering their sexuality to some very subconcious extent....and to actually film that, not only film it, but force them to act it out...
it's terrible. but that's only my opinion.
furthermore, like I said, I really really like films that are out of the Hollywood box, and I'm not opposed to darker subject matter even though I prefer happier films, but once in a while dark is good to stir things up in yourself..but with this one I've gotten half way through it and gave up because I realized they are probably not even going to explain anything even in the end of the movie. And yes, I'm curious but if they're not going to explain what the hell is going on, then why bother watching the rest of a movie I wasn't even enjoying.
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zwot
16 years ago
cecilemac, I would encourage you to give this film another chance and watch it through to the end. Clearly it has creeped you out on the first viewing, and I won't deny there's an ominous undercurrent throughout the film, but I think you may be pleasantly surprised at how it all turns out.
I don't think there is cause for concern about the scenes these child actors are playing. For the most part, it's their very innocence that makes the scenes completely innocuous; it is mostly the viewer's own loss of innocence that provokes feelings of impropriety. Perhaps the oldest girl ("Bianca") may one day regret having done a brief nude scene at that age, but I hope not because it wasn't prurient in any way. Her two scenes that were discussed earlier in this thread mirror the way I remember behaving at the same age, so there's nothing really to be embarrassed about. Kids are naturally curious about these things, it's the theme of the film. In fact, I remember playing "doctor" with a classmate in the first grade, when we were the same age as "Iris" in this film. And I can tell you it was entirely innocent, almost laughably so! :)
You are correct in your suspicion that they're "not even going to explain anything even in the end of the movie" but it's not the kind of story that needs explaining. It's really just the kind of story that needs to be experienced and absorbed, like life itself. All you need to understand is that the film explores the qualities of innocence, and the ever-shifting borders between innocence and worldliness. It's really quite a beautiful film.
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ZeroG_65
16 years ago
the oldest girl ("Bianca") may one day regret having done a
That may have been a body double, since Bianca's face was never seen while getting out of the tube our while looking in the mirror. Cut away shots for nude scenes are usually a good indicator of a double being used. It could be some petite, flat chested 18+ year old with some pubic hair alterations.
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