That scene closes with a teary Bella trying to help an inconsolable David as the police take him away. Next, in a near-empty bar this time, Bella introduces herself to David, who is shy and deeply flattered by her attention. And when she asks him to leave, he, and the bloody version of himself stuffed under her bed, walk out of her bedroom together. I wondered if her attempts to humanize David would lead some viewers to think that she was not actually raped. I immediately thought of the phenomenon of sexual assault victims who come forward and are demonized and doubted because they maintained contact with their assailants after their attacks.

Source: New York Times August 25, 2020 10:52 UTC