to be slightly horrified a 15 film was shown to 11 year olds?

[plumandvanilla]

The film was Macbeth which they have been reading in English, but although it is Shakespeare aibu to think this is so inappropriate? Or will I be 'that parent'?

[Yorke00]

Have you seen it? What is it about the film that you disapprove of?

[ChangingsOfTheGuard]

You'll be that parent. If it's as old as the Shakespeare films we watched in English there'll have been nothing too traumatic going on.

[Slarti]

Isn't slightly horrified an oxymoron?

[tinysparklyshoes]

I don't think one can be slightly horrified?

I'd be wondering why Macbeth was a 15. Which version was it?

[KimmySchmidt1]

It is no more inappropriate than the text. Given the extremely boring context in which it is shown - learning to understand an incredibly difficult text - i doubt they will have been disturbed by it, only slightly less bored than otherwise.

If you cant point to something about the film that you feel was inappropriate (and the play too presumably) then you are going to look like a bit of a prat.

Also, thinking about what is best for your child for a moment, are they an A* pupil? Because if not, watching the film has probably been a godsend in trying to get to grips with the text.

In other words, I think you should focus on thinking about the literature value rather than about being some ignorant southern baptist in the 1950s.

[plumandvanilla]

It was the version where LMs soliloquy is performed in the nude - Polanski I think. And how can you be surprised at version of Macbeth is a 15? I don't mean to sound rude but it's a very violent play. It's good, I'm not disputing that. I just don't think it's suitable for that age, hence the 15.

[PinkyBlunder]

I’d be wondering why Macbeth is a 15

Really?! Have you read the play??

I personally think if they are watching to supliment their reading it should be a version as true to the play as possible, not a version that has been dumbed down and hammed up for entertainment because ‘it’s Shakespeare darling’ and it’s perceived as difficult to understand. The story of Macbeth is pretty horrific. So no, it wouldn’t bother me. You could always chat to DC about it, find out how they felt about it, whether they’ve found it helpful etc

[tinysparklyshoes]

I know the play well, I assumed they dumbed it down for film.

[FeistyColl]

I am really surprised by people's responses here. I'm with you OP! It's been rated 15 for a reason! The fact that it is Shakespeare is irrelevant.
I don't know the version but a review of the Michel Fassbender film (2016 rated 15 ) has the following:

... the violence is frequent and brutal. Battle/fight scenes are prolonged, gory, and painstaking; sometimes it feels unrelenting. Men, women, and children die in horrible ways (burning, beheading, stabbing, and more).

I wouldn't be happy with my 11 watching that.

[CoolCarrie]

It's fine, we saw it at that age, and it was excellent, and better that version than the more recent one with Fassbender as that, imho, wouldn't be suitable, due to the sexual content.

[ChangingsOfTheGuard]

the polanski version is from 1971...I doubt it will be horrifying by today's standards.

[Wilburissomepig]

Our 11 year olds are either shown an animated version or a 'modern' version with Sean Pertwee in it. No one in the rudey nudey in it and no I don't think you're being unreasonable at all.

[AccidentallyRunToWindsor]

I know you have mentioned the nudity but what specifically about it has shocked you?

If it's purely the fact that the film was given a 15 certificate then I think you're being a bit dramatic, what was shocking nearly 50 years ago on screen would seem very tame to youngsters now.

What did your DC think of it?

[WildBluebelles]

Apparently Polanski was influenced by the horrific murder of his wife and her friends in the 1971 version. It is a bit grisly.
However, I would not complain. I doubt it's anything they haven't seen before in computer games etc. I did not do Macbeth until I was in year 10. It's quite a 'mature' play. I think we did the Tempest in year 7.

[FeistyColl]

I still don't understand why the original work being written by Shakespeare means that the rating should be ignored? If parents had been asked for consent fair enough, but I wouldn't expect a 15 rated film to be shown to 11 year olds in school.

[brasty]

I hadn't realised at first when reading your OP that it was a film from 1971. Surely that would not be a 15 today. I am older and I remember watching 15 films that are now shown pre watershed.

[NotAgainYoda]

I'd expect them to obtain consent for that. Which I'd probably give.

At Primary we are only allowed to show U's to children unless we have consent.

[Flyinggeese]

Slarti yep either 'horrified' or not. Not sure one can be slightly horrified!

OP what's the key concern? Do you object to the children reading the play or seeing it on stage?

I believe age restrictions are advisory only, but willing to be corrected on that.

[Psychobabble123]

Honestly? It wouldn't bother me at all.

[Mivery]

I don't know. I don't think you're being unreasonable, but I also feel like making a fuss about it would be an overreaction.

[BonfiresOfInsanity]

My son did Hamlet in Year 7 and was told to watch the David Tennant version. I'm assuming that, as it's on the syllabus for Yr 7, that its generally suitable?

[Coloursthatweremyjoy]

No. A 15 film should not be shown to 11 year olds. It doesn't matter who the original writer was or how educational it is. It was rated 15 for a reason. It's not up to the school to decide otherwise.

Plus it's not uncommon subject matter I'm sure they could have found a suitable version.

However, are you sure it was rated 15? Are you sure they saw all of it. My DS saw selected scenes from I don't know what version when they studied it.

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

The version my lot watched was a school version that had been edited to be PG or PG 12 I can’t rememeber which

[Summer1986]

It could be much worse. At least it's relevant. In my school a teacher was dismissed for (amongst other things) showing American pie to year 7!!

[brasty]

Watching a school version actually sounds more likely.