They say that, sadly, the abused often go on to be abusers in adulthood. To me the most telling moment in this film is when Gustav is interviewing Anne for his tape recording and she refuses to divulge the identity of her first sexual partner - just saying that "sometimes what must never happen is what happens".
Seen through this lens, the film I think deftly explores both sides of Anne's survivor mentality. One the one hand, she has developed a career in helping other abuse victims, and we see the positive effect that she is having on them, and the unforgiving approach that she takes towards their abusers. On the other hand, we see the various negative effects of her determination to protect the family life that she has built (and of which she is "Queen"). Recognising that Gustav's arrival threatens to disrupt everything, she literally stops at nothing to neutralise the threat - first by drawing him in via seduction (even though this means she herself becomes an abuser), then by forcing him out.
Personally, I don't see the ending as inevitable but Anne is ready for it as one option. Before that, but after she has told him that the affair is over, there are a couple of key scenes where she lays it on the line for him - effectively asking "what do you want?" and "you must have known this would end". In my view, this is her survivor mindset telling him to grow up fast and get over it, or get out. She really doesn't mind which way he chooses, now that she has regained control of her husband and family.
Everyone in this film is a victim, really.
Seen through this lens, the film I think deftly explores both sides of Anne's survivor mentality. One the one hand, she has developed a career in helping other abuse victims, and we see the positive effect that she is having on them, and the unforgiving approach that she takes towards their abusers. On the other hand, we see the various negative effects of her determination to protect the family life that she has built (and of which she is "Queen"). Recognising that Gustav's arrival threatens to disrupt everything, she literally stops at nothing to neutralise the threat - first by drawing him in via seduction (even though this means she herself becomes an abuser), then by forcing him out.
Personally, I don't see the ending as inevitable but Anne is ready for it as one option. Before that, but after she has told him that the affair is over, there are a couple of key scenes where she lays it on the line for him - effectively asking "what do you want?" and "you must have known this would end". In my view, this is her survivor mindset telling him to grow up fast and get over it, or get out. She really doesn't mind which way he chooses, now that she has regained control of her husband and family.
Everyone in this film is a victim, really.