Rape Her?
During the bombing scene, she keeps saying NO and slapping Mark, but Mark doesn't give up...and then the next scene they both announce that they'll get married. I don't understand this. Did he rape her? Did she get pregnant? Why the need to get married?
spoilers ahead:
Yes, Mark raped her. I know some sources say it is unclear but come on! She clearly didn't want it and when Mark carried her off to the bed, it was because she was exhausted from fighting him. As time progresses, the film clearly develops the viewpoint that Mark is despicable. No, Veronika did not get pregnant.
I think Veronika was feeling extreme shame over the rape; she thought the shame would be alleviated if she married Mark. The film later shows that this has nothing but disastrous consequences. Instead of the family being able to drive Mark away at once (if she told them what happened), the family thinks that Veronika has committed a terrible act of betrayal against Boris. She is further shamed in the hospital scene. It's an interesting progression for Veronika to have such bliss in the first act of the film, such shame in the second act of the film, and such suffering in the last act.
Yes, and even if the actual assault isn't shown it's one of the most explicit rape scenes in older films up to that time (disregarding really cheap sensationalist, unrated films of whatever kind). It was impossible to follow through with an on-screen rape in the 1950s of course, not just in the US but in Europe too, but this is as explicit as it could ever get. More importantly, it's masterfully acted, paced and filmed.
You are a lunatic, Sir, and you're going to end up on the Russian front. I have a car waiting.
Yes. I kept wondering why she didn't grab one of the million shards of glass laying all over the apartment and use it to defend herself.
I mean I know it's a movie and this is the plot as it was written... but still.
The people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of history.
-Mao Zedong