I'm confused about some part in the Across The Universe movie?

Question

I really liked the movie Across The Universe. But there is some parts I don't get. Can anyone clear them up for me?

1 - The part where Lucy and her friend Emily are walking down the street and Lucy is saying she never wants children. What is the point of this? Or is it just a random conversation?

2 - The part during Across the Universe/Helter Skelter song when there are the nude Vietnamese women are dancing and then they fall into the watter and are floating there dead. It's supposed to be symbolism, right? But what does it symbolise?

Thanks.

Answer 1

I love this movie!

1-it was just random convo

2-it it symbolism, it's symbolizing innocent victims of war.    

Answer 2

it means she  doesn't want people to judge and i  think she was just being against the war.

Answer 3

1.  It was just a random conversation, but it was meant to highlight how strong-minded and independent of a woman Lucy is.  She doesn't want to just be the housewife with a knack for birthing babies.

2.  The Vietnamese women:  this is how I interpreted it.  That those women with the masks weren't considered actual 'people' until after Max killed them, and their masks fell off.  Then he saw that they were just innocents, and I think that got to him more than anything, leading to the 'Happiness Is a Warm Gun' sequence.

Answer 4

I agree with the others the first part was just conversation and showing Lucy's different take on life, wanting to make a change in the world

The second part like others has said is about the fall of innocence, the masks falling off to reveal they are real people as well and it was also said that during vietnam so many bodies would float down the river. They are painted white, because white stands for innocence and the fall of- as they splash into the water.