Parasite (film!): suitability for (nearly) 14 yo?

[AndwhenyougetthereFoffsomemore]

Dd is hugely into the whole Korean music/Kdrama scene, and has for the last 9 months or so been independently teaching herself Korean.

She'd love to go and see Parasite, and the reviews I've read make it sound like an 'ok' 15 (she's watched a few 15s at home, but never at a cinema), as well as clearly being an amazing film. She's reasonably robust as long as things aren't too freaky, but I'm conscious that cinema is very different in terms of the immersion and emotional reaction. Does anyone who's seen it have any useful guidance for us?

Hmm. Up until the last 15 minutes I would have said absolutely yes. Depends how you are / she is with sudden, unpredictable full-on violence. It was really shocking (and I watch plenty crime/ thriller etc). Brilliant film with slightly odd rushed resolution.

Ahhhh - I have slightly avoided reading too much about the end to not spoil it for myself, that's useful thanks! She's not a big fan of full on violence and probably hasn't seen much. If we're prewarned I suppose she can be ready to hide behind her coat... or maybe David Copperfield is safer ;-)

It’s a great film but the violence is quite graphic in a Quentin Tarantino esque way.

I would be surprised if cinema let her in without ID.

Thanks ... this is useful and steering me against it being sensible
From my knowledge of this cinema I'd be surprised if they'd check, but neither of mine have ever been to an underage film as they are generally quite wussy, so I may be wrong! Either way, my priority is that she's not left with anything in her head she doesn't want to give headspace too yet...

FWIW I absolutely adored David Copperfield! Utterly magical achieving light and dark, humour and tragedy. Brilliant film.

Took my 16 year old, who loved it. I think nearly 14 could be ok, depending on their maturity level. There is a sex scene, but no nudity, a few fucks (couldn't give you the Korean mind!) and as mentioned some violence from the middle onwards. Personally didn't find it that shocking compared to some 15 rated films. As an eye-opener to Korean society, it was very interesting. I had no idea about poverty levels there, especially among the elderly. It was pretty dark! If you have Netflix, they have one of his previous films Okja, also a 15 though.

if it's a 15 I imagine they will ask for ID. My DC have all been asked for ID for a 15. DS2 was outraged when, at 14 and fairly muscular (tho not tall tbh) he was IDd in CEX when buying a 12 film!

Not seen the movie btw.

The violence at the end looks horrific. However the whole thing is so surreal, that it takes on a completely different dimension in relation to the film. The sets in Korea are really interesting and as she already has an interest in that culture I am sure she will enjoy it.

It’s fine. My 11 year old has seen worse things on Netflix (Grimm, Haven etc).

I would say it's fine because it's not the kind of senseless gratuitous violence of so many action movies.

When the violence happens you are shocked and engaged, not desensitized.

It's a brilliant movie and if your DD likes Korean culture it's a must-see. I think it has one of the famous actresses from Oh My Ghost IIRC.

has for the last 9 months or so been independently teaching herself Korean.

I just clocked this bit. That's amazing. What a clever DD you have!

Loads of my undergraduates have been learning Korean for the same reason.

It’s a 15 so it’s obviously not suitable for a 13 year old.

Thanks for the additional thoughts :-)

@LittleLebowski, Yes, she's reasonably sensible and think she could cope with the sex side apart from the horror of watching it next to her mum, and certainly the language: it's the violence I'm more concerned about. And thanks for the heads up on Okja which looks fab (echos of a real life Totoro, which she also loves... )- we'd spotted Snowpiercer on Netflix ... am I right that Okja is in English too?

@RomeoLikedCapuletGirls - yes there are a few actors in it that she knows from Kdramas - I think in Korean terms it's a starry cast :-) I'm not sure about clever but she is horrifically tenacious when she sets her mind to something. I'll admit that when we went into a local restaurant and she ended up talking to the owner in Korean I was somewhat taken aback to find out she really HAD been learning Korean not just messing about on her phone ;-)

I've compromised by saying we can get it on DVD when it comes out as violence is less visceral on a small screen ... my ds who is 15 has seen a number of films at this cinema and him and his mates have never been IDed so useful to know that's maybe not typical too.

Andwhen We have a long-running kdrama addicts thread in streamed TV if you or your daughter want recommendations. One of our regulars Hello managed to get to a pretty advanced level learning Korean (and Japanese!) and a few of us are dabbling with Duolingo etc. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/streamed_tv/3824182-MsLatte-s-Daebak-Cybercaf-Kdrama-addicts-13?pg=1&order=

I think it would be a shame for her to miss out on seeing this. I think the rating is more to do with the sex scene than the violence. I do not like watching violence but this is done in slow motion and it is like watching a ballet. The look at Korean Street life really lends itself to the big screen.

It is a great film, by the way.

I went to take my 14:year old DD who also is leaning Korean and they wouldn't sell us a ticket.

Oooh, thanks @boatyardblues: I'll have a look at that thread definitely - she's doing bits of Japanese and Chinese (her best mate's mum is Chinese) too, and I certainly recognise some of the titles on the list in that thread - I think she started with the historicals but has moved onto some of the supernatural romance type things?!