From The Utena Movie.
The Director Kunihiko Ikuhara said in his commentary, that this is like the story “Sleeping Beauty”, but with the roles reversed. Meaning that Utena who had been the prince throughout the film, now became like the “Sleeping Beauty” Princess, because when she got turn into a car, she was/is basically being put into a deep sleep, that only Anthy, now in the role of Prince can wake her from.
Hope that helps anyone, that could never really understand the reasoning behind this scene.
MAG.MOE - The MAG, The MOE.