Having not seen the film, i'm reserving the right to hold judgement, but when i first heard of it i couldn't help but feel sickened. The fact that they used an actual twelve year old to perform the scene certainly sets off alarm bells.
However, lets not forget that child rape is an issue that, sadly occurs in day to day life, and the mark of maturity is that one understands that this is the case, and also understands that often it IS a part of storylines. Also there is the fact that, again sadly, not all incidents are reported, let alone brought to justice. It's just everyday life.
From what i'm hearing however, the film seems to be more about how someone copes with such situations. To take another example, has anyone either read and/or watched the book and it's film adapation 'The Colour Purple'? Right at the start (in the book at least, correct me if i'm wrong in the instance of the film) there is child rape, and incest to boot. During the whole thing, there isn't justice, there isn't the heroine getting her own back on everyone, it's her ability to survive and to grow dispite that adversity. I believe that may well be what the producers of Hound Dog were attempting.
But it's just typical for various groups to start rattling the railings even before they saw it. Tbh, their opinions on the notions of a film with child rape in it should be listened to, but to imediately decry it without understanding how it was done smacks of ignorance.
Willow, obviously you've seen it.. Would you care to elaborate on how the scene was done? I can imagine it was merely a few abstract shots, some dialogue and whatnot?
If that's the case, then i believe really this is just a load of hot water about nothing. As long as it was done sensitively and didn't actually involve the young actress actually doing anything, it isn't worth the amount of critisism.
Moreover, why shouldn't the issue be addressed? Why shouldn't ANY taboo subject not be addressed? If we decided to play safe and just stick our heads in the sand, then aren't we just inviting more trouble in society as people become more ignorant, even apathetic to the notion of child rape?
It needs to be brought more into the open, so that people reconise it as being wrong and actually THINK about it, not just being told. Humans (NT and AS) have a tendancy to resent being told what to do, therefore if the same conclusion can be brought about by that person's own thoughts, then they have recieved a decision easily than someone just telling them that 'child porn is wrong', making it less likely for people to believe otherwise.
Because unless you've got something seriously wrong with you, child abuse is wrong on so many levels. Any sane person will understand that.
05 Feb 2007, 6:15 pm
