[rglover]

I also found the film prudish, implying that having a large family can only be a product of ignorance and animalistic tendencies.

I believe you're referring to the family tree scene where the affluent couple wants to conceive but they cannot. Instead, they parallel their experience against the destitute couple breeding at an infinite rate.

I don't believe this should be a slight against having a large family, but rather, doing so under mindless pretenses. To be blunt: just having sex to have sex, not to procreate with a purpose.

[oinksoft]

This would be my statement to the writer: Sex for sex' sake is far from mindless, and a child conceived in love is no worse than one who is the product of deliberation and effort. Also, pregnancies are equally likely to be deliberated amongst low-income families, especially in rural societies.

[StavrosK]

I don't think it was just "sex for sex' sake". It's just that contraception requires responsibility, and the irresponsible are the ones who, by default, have more children, which is the opposite of how it should be.

[rglover]

Much better articulation of what I was trying to say.