Ashley’s comment > Likes and Comments

I watched the film after and this doubled the effect of the book. It really is a faithful adaptation. I'm not sure if you've been to SA but that eastern part is blue skies, wide fields...very idyllic and the killing of the dogs and the rape happens in this setting.
I agree with you on the rape point.

I watched it too and it did do the book justice. I've never been to SA and I'd never imagined from the book for it to be as you say blue skies and wide fields, I imagined a dingy, run down, almost dirty place.

I agree, for the most part. But as someone who teaches, I found Melanie's lack of enthusiasm and lack of resistance curious....until he made it clear to her that she would have to make up work, take the tests. Then, she became vindictive. I wouldn't say that she went into the situation completely innocent. They were both wrong to enter into it, but both went into it thinking that they'd get something out of it (ego boost, or a passing grade). Yes, he takes the prize for smarmy, and is the instigator, but I wouldn't call her a complete and total victim (I saw some quite audacious moves on married profs by my peers when in grad school, too, so it's not just age talking here--there is such a thing as entrapment). Makes me happy to be a woman in that I don't find myself faced with these choices too often, and they're usually laughable when they do happen. I'm glad to hear that the film is faithful; I'll check it out.