I'd say it's more of a thematic trait of the film than a personal trait of the character. She represents a coquettish, sexualized femininity that is stereotyped as the "innocent sexy French girl." It's a vague cultural stereotype with origins, I imagine, in the liberal sexual attitudes of the French. The film turns it on its head by suggesting that the stereotype of the "innocent sexy French girl" (or Dutch girl, or Swedish, any country that is stereotyped as having sexy women) is something that is created in the minds of men, for their benefit. She acts less intelligent than she really is, she pretends to be manipulated while actually being the manipulator, and her french accent is a farce. I think it's a send-up of a movie character "type", the seductress.
To put it simply: she is the Tim Robbins character's fantasy woman, quite literally. She is not what she appears to be.
reply
share