Ginger & Rosa
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Ginger & Rosa
Ginger & Rosa (2012) is a coming-of-age drama set in 1962 London, against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the burgeoning sexual revolution. The film follows the intense friendship between two inseparable teenage girls, Ginger and Rosa, as their bond is tested by global anxieties and profound personal betrayals within their dysfunctional families. Ginger, an aspiring poet and activist, grapples with the potential end of the world while navigating her parents' collapsing marriage and her best friend's affair with her charismatic, yet morally bankrupt, father. The movie explores themes of idealism, disillusionment, and the search for identity amid societal upheaval. While critically acclaimed for its performances, particularly Elle Fanning's, the film delves into challenging and mature subjects, making it suitable for older audiences capable of processing disturbing content.
Things to Consider
Romance and Sexual Content
The movie contains significant sexual content including teen sexual activity, implied sex, and a central plot point involving an affair between a teenage girl (Rosa) and an adult man (Roland), leading to pregnancy. There are also instances of suggestive behavior and partial nudity.
Scenes include teens making out in an alley and a couple having 'sex on the sidewalk'. The most significant concern is the affair between the teenage Rosa and Ginger's father, Roland, which results in Rosa becoming pregnant, and 'the sounds of sexual activity between an adult and teen are heard'. Roland is also seen 'lustily peer[ing] at Rosa'. Girls are shown in their bras in several scenes, and a man walks in on Ginger and Rosa wearing only their pants and bras.
Substance Use
Substance use is prevalent, with both teenagers and adults frequently depicted smoking and drinking. Specific instances include a teen becoming ill from alcohol and a character's suicide attempt involving an overdose of pills.
Scary & Intense Content
The film is imbued with a strong sense of dread and anxiety, primarily driven by the looming threat of nuclear war and deeply personal betrayals. These elements create significant emotional intensity and disturbing themes.
Anti-Christian Themes
The film features a prominent character, Roland, who is an atheist and actively dismisses and scoffs at Christian beliefs, attempting to undermine Ginger's curiosity about God. While one character (Rosa) is Catholic, her faith is challenged and ultimately overshadowed by the negative influence of the atheist character.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
16+. The film is rated PG-13 by the MPAA, but the content descriptors indicate mature and disturbing thematic material, including implied child sexual abuse, teen pregnancy, a suicide attempt, and significant substance use. Parental reviews consistently suggest the film is suitable only for mature older teens due to its intense themes and explicit discussions.
Good to Know
The film's exploration of dysfunctional family dynamics and the impact of adult choices on adolescents is a central and pervasive theme. The characters' emotional struggles are intense, and the narrative does not shy away from showing the destructive consequences of infidelity and self-centered behavior. Parents should be prepared for heavy discussions around these themes with older teens.
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