The antagonist of the film, Marya, is implied to be lesbian. There is one scene which struck up much controversy when the film was initially released, in which Marya asks a girl she picked up from the streets to pose for her to paint a picture of. The girl undresses part ways exposing her shoulders and some cleavage all the while Marya stares leering at her before attacking her off screen. (Rape is implied as the girl later recounts in horror of the feelings she is plagued with before dying.)