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This is the ideal situation for both of them. Paul wants power, and the easiest way to have power is by taking it from somebody else, especially somebody smaller and weaker. Paul looks Jeanne up and down and then, without saying a word, lifts her into his arms and carries her to the side of the room. What he does to her might not be rape, but certainly raises issues of consent. Paul rips Jeanne's panties off, without taking off any of his clothes, and enters her. The scene is perfunctory yet passionate. Her moans make it clear that, despite her lack of consent, she is enjoying the act, and indicates that she has at least one orgasm. What is important about this scene is that Paul is completely in control of the situation, which is what both of them want.

Still inside of her, Paul falls to the floor on top of her, her legs straddling his, and they catch their breath as the sex ends. Almost immediately she rolls away from him. This is not an act of gravity; she pushes herself so as to get distinct distance from him. She is trying to find her own space, and find herself, after having given herself to him completely. This is what Jeanne wants, she thinks, which is why she does not resist Paul when he takes her. She wants to be a grownup, to have a real sexual relationship, and she thinks that allowing herself to be controlled by Paul will provide her with that. But she thinks that this will create true intimacy, which is the exact opposite of what Paul wants.

Paul creates an abusive relationship with Jeanne in which he has complete power over her because he does not know anything about her or care about her. He was hurt by his wife because he let himself love her, so he shuts himself off from Jeanne completely, which is his way of retaining control. He takes her physically but does not give up any part of himself, and there are several scenes in which she is naked or partially naked but he is clothed, as if he is wearing armor to keep himself safe. At one point he puts his hand over her mouth to stop her from telling him her name. He doesn't want a real person. He wants a doll he can own and control.

Jeanne is drawn to Paul because he offers her a physical closeness that her fiance does not. Her fiance, Tom constantly films her in an attempt to make their love into a movie. The result is fake and insincere, and as a result creates a distance between them. As much as Tom tries to be loving and embrace her, he does so in the wrong way. In one scene, Jeanne and Paul are lying together, their arms and legs entwined, creating the kind of closeness for which Jeanne is desperate.

Jeanne plays Paul's games as an attempt to create intimacy with him. She is desperate to prove her own maturity to him, which is why at one point she starts masturbating on the bed in front of him. But he responds to her with cruelty and abuse, and his moments of sweetness are mixed with mockery. When she is soaking wet in her wedding dress Paul carries her over the threshold of his apartment, but later he picks up a dead rat and taunts her with it. He frequently grabs her, lifts her up, pushes her under the water, always proving that he has the power, both physically and emotionally.

As Paul's sense of control slips away from him he becomes more abusive towards Jeanne. The last two sex scenes we see are deeply disturbing, and one of them can only be classified as rape. Paul takes Jeanne from behind, using butter as lubricant. He pushes her to the ground, controlling her completely, ignoring her pleas and her tears. Paul is able to maintain his control over Jeanne by emotionally manipulating her. This is a common tool in abusive relationships, where the abuser uses demeaning language to denigrate their partner, making them feel like they deserve physical and emotional abuse. In one scene Paul makes Jeanne insert a finger into his butt, forcing Jeanne to do something she does not want to, and using her for his own pleasure. “I'm gonna get a pig, and I'm gonna get the pig to fuck you,” Paul says. “And I'm gonna have the pig vomit in your face. And I want you to swallow the vomit.” Paul is trying to make Jeanne feel worthless, and he is successful. “Are you gonna do all of that for me?” he asks, to which she responds, “Yes, and more than that. And worse.”

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