Nude scene completely out of place.

I agree with you entirely. To those who might say that it's not supposed to be a documentary, I say that the nude scene is artistically inappropriate. Sure, the movies require suspension of disbelief, but only up to a point.

Amish women think their hair is their glory? I am not intimately familiar with Amish culture, but this sort of thought doesn't seem congruous with the importance they place on plainness and humility. The reason many religious people wear hats is to cover their heads before God. It's an act of humility, like bowing or kneeling during prayer. This is why men and women both cover their heads. But you can still have your hair down with a hat on, so I was under the assumption the hair is kept up because not only does it keep the hair out of one's work, but it's also more plain that way. But I'm no expert, so perhaps you're right.

Umm, hun Pennsylvania has the largest population of Amish, I know, I'm from PA. I live in Somerset County, born and raised, which is the second biggest population of Amish in the US, the first being of course is Lancaster. But, yes you are right, an Amish woman would never expose herself, in front of anyone, except her husband, but then again, I've never seen Amish have sex, thankfully, so I wouldn't know if that would even be 100% correct...lol Amish women wear bonnets, not just because of their hair being their glory and all, but as a form of obedience to their husbands, aka a devotional cap, some mennonites wear the same thing.

"All my friends are dead
All my friends are dead"
Turbonegro

"Well, them Ohio Amish must be different." ;)
-------------------

I happen to think that the nude scene was crucial because it symbolized the dramatic energy and complexity of the Rachel and John plot line.

Do you recall that her first instinct was to turn around and cover herself in embarrassment? This is the Amish Rachel.

Yet, she pauses, turns around and exposes herself to John. And in so doing, becomes Rachel the woman. It's an act of great courage to communicate to John without any ambiguity, her regard and intentions for him and the life change she is willing to make.

She is not a young woman yearning to see the rest of the world. She is willing to this for John. In this sense, John is the chicken. Rachel put the ball in his court and he decides to leave without her.

In some cultures, this risk of life in pursuit of love is the very reason and essence of living. But, maybe not so much in our American culture.

.

The nude scene was tender, sensitive and risky! It signifies that as much as Book has come to appreciate the culture and Rachel's way of life she too has moved in his direction - his shyness, his masculinity and his obvious appreciation of her as a person and as a woman. So....was the nude scene exploitative? Not in the context of the exchanges of feelings throughout the entire movie. The question that the scene was asking was whether or not either character could move to the side of the other, Book chose not answer for obvious reasons!

I have nothing against nudity in films, but I have to agree that it shouldn't have been done in this movie. It actually hurt the film, imo.

Maybe you don't know what the power of the flesh means. Just see the face of Rachel she was taking the shower, she was totally attracted to John Book and when women love anymore cares...

I think part of the reason she is different is she was married before and her husband is dead. She probably is less shy, and you could see from the reaction of the town, she was not the norm. She was an exception to the rule. Don't you think some amish would have sex outside of marriage secretly? I just think it is unfair to say its not what most amish women would do, because she isn't just the stereotype