An Uncomfortable Viewing/Reading Experience: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"

I recently finished reading the best-selling novel by Stieg Larsson The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I must admit, I saw the movie in theaters before I read the book. I went to see the movie with a friend over winter break, who failed to warn me about the seriously violent and disturbing rape scene in the film. To say I was shocked is an understatement. After the first two minutes of the scene, I had to avert my eyes. I remember looking around the theater and seeing the majority of other moviegoers doing the same. Despite the horribly graphic scenes, I thought the movie was very good; the plot was intriguing and the characters were dynamic. However, I couldn't seem to block out the horrific rape scenes.

After seeing the movie, I wanted to read the book. I assumed that I had certainly seen the worst, in regards to the violent scenes on screen. But, reading the rape scene was just as bad. Because of this, I was curious to read some reviews online about the matter of such serious violence in this novel/movie. First, I came across an interview on the Daily Mail UK website with actor Daniel Craig, who plays Mikael Blomkvist, expressing his opinions on the film. "...this is a $100 million R-rated movie. Nobody makes those anymore.' He also insists that David Fincher, who is directing the movie adaptation of Stieg Larsson's best selling thriller, is 'not holding back'. 'They've given him free rein,' he said.'He recently showed me some scenes, and my hand was over my mouth, going, 'Are you f***ing serious?' ''It's not that he simply showed me footage that was horribly graphic - it was stuff that was happening, or had happened. And somehow you don't see it. There's more than one way to sense violence. Much more powerful ways than seeing it step-by-step.' " (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2012256/Daniel-Craig-reveals-violent-scenes-The-Girl-With-The-Dragon-Tattoo-jaw-drop.html#ixzz1pCkj1S1N)

I was also interested to understand the view of the film from a feminist perspective, seeing as the violence was extremely misogynistic. I referred to a site, She Knows Entertainment, that is targeted to women. The film review began with a warning "Watching an act of injustice is ethically and emotionally tough to take. And why is that? Because when we see someone being mistreated who is otherwise helpless, we see our weaknesses as human beings. If you have no stomach for pain or suffering, rape, murder or random acts of violence, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is not the movie for you." (http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/850669/movie-review-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo)

 

Even though I am eager to see how the rest of the series pans out, I've heard that the next two novels are equally intense and violent. I may have to wait a little while, as my violent threshold is still on overload from the first!