Silence and fury: rape and The Virgin Spring

This article is a reconsideration of The Virgin Spring that focuses upon the rape at the centre of the film's action, despite the film's surface attempts to marginalise all but its narrative functionality. While the deployment of this rape supports critical observations that rape on-screen commonly underscores the seriousness of broader thematic concerns, it is argued that the visceral impact of this brutal scene actively undermines its narrative intent. No matter how central the journey of the vengeful father's mission from vengeance to redemption is to the story, this ultimately pales next to the shocking impact of the rape and murder of the girl herself.