What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this period drama recounting Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy’s last months, while powerful and well acted, isn't too likely to appeal to kids. It has moments of both intense squabbling and gentle loving between the writer and his wife. Many of their fights are loud and painfully honest (though not venomous), and younger teens may find them disturbing. There’s also a sex scene with partial nudity (a woman's breasts) and a little swearing (though "bitch" is about as strong as it gets).
- Families can talk about what the movie is trying to say about marriage. Whatmakes the romances in this film similar to or different to other Hollywood pairings?
- Does Leo and Sofya's relationship seem realistic? How much of the movie do you think is based on fact, and what parts might the filmmakers have had to fill in? Why might filmmakers sometimes alter the truth for a movie?