What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this biopic about iconic female pilot Amelia Earhart (played by Oscar winner Hilary Swank) has a strong female role model for preteen girls and older. Although the film addresses Earhart's tumultuous personal life (including issues related to fidelity and fame), it also offers empowering messages -- throughout the film, Earhart is portrayed as a true champion of a woman's right to take flight and “be free.” Expect some kissing and underwear-clad cuddling, an affair, a fair bit of smoking (accurate to the era), some social drinking, and a little salty language ("ass," "hell," and the like).
- Families can talk about what drives Earhart to set records. Does she have anything to prove, or is she simply a true aviator? Was she, as critics said, reckless?
- What impact did Earhart have the women’s movement? Did she detract from that with all her endorsements, especially of products she didn’t actually like, such as cigarettes?
- What is the movie saying about "celebrity culture"? How have things changed (or haven't they?) since Earhart's day?