What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this poignant British drama is for older adults and will hold little appeal for teens or even young adults. The themes are mature and require an adult perspective to appreciate it. As far as content goes, well, that's pretty mature, too. An elderly man croons lasciviously at a much younger woman who trades sexual favors for material gains, allowing him to kiss her neck, feel her breasts, and talk dirty to her. There's nonstop drinking, pill popping, semi-nudity, ubiquitous profanity ("c--t," "f--k"), and a painful discussion about the fact that the young woman was coerced by her mother into having an abortion. There's also a brief, violent fight scene.
- Families can talk about Peter O'Toole's character, Maurice, and his interest in a much younger woman. Is the attraction based on proximity, his desire for one last hurrah, or real love? This is a far cry from how senior characters are typically portrayed in the media; is it difficult to see a man this age being sexual? What does Maurice offer Jessie to make her change how she feels about him -- and herself? What lessons does she teach him? Parents can also expand on the film's references to Shakespeare and Diego Velazquez's painting of Venus.