to not let my 14 year old to watch an 18 even if it is for English

[Mrsjay]

DD2 English teacher has said if they had it they could maybe watch an over 18 film because they are reading another book is by the same author, I am really not comfortable with her reading the book anyway but I certainly dont want her to watch the film,

I think I was about 14 when I saw Trainspotting (I had the poster pre watching the film, as someone else mentioned - rite of passage!). I don't remember it having any adverse affect on me and it certainly didn't glamourise heroin use...

But I wouldn't be comfortable with a teacher recommending that my 14 year old daughter (if I had one) should watch an 18. I can't see how that would help her to understand the book anyway, they're very different - and I've never understood the trend with some English teachers to show a film of a book that's being studied. It's just not relevant.

I would let my teenage DC watch a fair few 18 films but I wouldn't let them watch Trainspotting without a lot of thought and discussion and probably watching it with them with the remote at hand.

The dead baby scene alone is harrowing. The Begbie glassing is harrowing.

So, be careful.

Trainspotting is a horrible film.

Junk really upset dd. Particularly as it is very unrealistic and gives an eventually sanitised view of addiction.

Usually I would say "fine" to an 18's film, but the drug issue is strange in both the film and book.

Of course YANBU. The teacher is U to suggest it...of course many parents allow it, of course kids do it anyway, of course some films are very worthy etc etc etc...but the teacher shouldn't have said that.

I did junk at school over 10 years ago now. Was a horrible book about heroin users (made it quite exciting and glamerous). I'm not a censoring type of mum, my dc listen to Rhianna and watch south park at 5 and 7 but junk I would have a problem with.

Unless you are Scottish your child probably wouldnt understand Trainspotting book, it is written in 'Scottish' - as are most of Irvine Welsh books.

we would understand it

I would select a few sections to watch with her and discuss, perhaps the toilet scene as its iconic and often shown out of context anyway. Also shows how seedy it was. That way she can join in with her class mates without being different or 'the only one' not to have seen it and you can control what she has seen. I remember a prison scene that was very unsuitable for children to see, and that had far reaching consequences which were disturbing.

If you aren't comfortable allowing her to watch it, don't. As I said in my earlier post, we always tell the kids that they should only watch the 15 films if they have parental permission to do so. The English teacher isn't telling your daughter she must watch the film.

The English teacher isn't telling your daughter she must watch the film.

Of course you are right I think she just mentioned it and it won't be shown in class either , DD isn't really enjoying junk either as \i said she is a sensitive soul

Junk has a happy ending, Mrsjay, if that makes her feel better.

But that really angered dd as she knows how rare happy endings are for addicts

Oh see I really enjoyed the book, but then I have a self destruct button so could relate. Not a good thing so be happy she's not enjoying it.

I watched it when I was 13 (was my birthday party treat - may parents were normally very strict so not sure how I wrangled it!). I really enjoyed the film (and still do), but I remember very clearly that I never ever wanted to touch drugs after seeing it, and I still haven't 15 years later. I know my mum was worried that it glamourised drug use, but it had the complete opposite affect on me. I thought the soundtrack and the production was very cool (and ewan mcgregor was well fit!) but was able to separate that from the themes and scenes that were shown.

I'm pretty inured to most things these days but the scene with the baby on the ceiling still freaks me out...

What are they supposed to gain from watching Trainspotting? Is it related to Junk in any way apart from being about a group of people who take heroin? If it's for an English course, wouldn't it make more sense to watch a group drama about something different, or an adaptation of a different novel by the same author?

When we do Vietnam for Controlled Assessment, films are a valid source of information. We show them the Vietnam scenes in Forrest Gump as one of their five sources, but the film I say could be useful if they have permission is Platoon. Very violent, and I wouldn't show it in class and I can understand that some parents wouldn't want their kids seeing it. That's why it is a suggested source, with parental permission only. I think (obviously not knowing the teacher) that this will be what your DD's teacher means.

YANBU to not want her to see it, but the choice remains yours so I don't really see what the teacher has done wrong tbh.

I was prepared to come on and say that YANBU etc etc and children should watch age appropriate films BUT I think Trainspotting is an exception - I think it should be shown to all teens in schools as a matter of course as a warning against drugs. It shows addicts as they really are, it also says drugs are fun which people don't tend to tell you - fun but fuck you up long term.

I think if it was made today it would be a 15 tbh.

OTOH I HATE it when schools put you in a positions here you feel you have to make these decisions.

I think the students should be warned about the themes involved. Teenagers are affected by SIDS and violence. It's not just the heroin.

Oh Lord I forgot about the baby dying Actually I have done a complete U turn and am saying YANBU.

The trouble with these films is that they can be too close to the bone for some students. And while in theory teenagers should know about them, in some cases they already sadly know too much.

So the film can be a lot more upsetting than the teacher expects.

And as a parent, it can be very difficult to decide. Because I have no problem with films that have swearing, or blasphemy, or even a fair amount of sex and violence - if it is an important part of a plot. But trainspotting really, really upset me.

there is the baby, explicit sex scenes violence more sex a really EWWWY bed mess scene , when I first saw it i was a bit un nerved by some of the scenes,

DH took me to see Trainspotting on our first date

I think I would let DD (13) watch it, but only with us so we could discuss what was happening, etc.

I wish I could show you all dh's reaction to the idea of our 14 ds watching trainspotting. [hshock] doesn't cut it. (It's one of his favourite films btw.)

YANBU

I just don't really see that the potential benefit of watching Trainspotting is high enough to take the risk of overexposing very young people to something so upsetting and which encourages them to think that it's normal to have sex with people you've just met while still at school. And yes I think it's a good film.

If your dd's teacher wants them to read a group drama about young people affected by mind-altering substances, I'd suggest A Midsummer Night's Dream.

See, I wouldn't watch Trainspotting myself because I have no interest in the topic and I don't really like that sort of film (I'm a Gosford Park girl). No-one has said that OP's DD has to watch it. I personally would never suggest an 18 to any of my pupils, but I do give parents the option of allowing the DC to watch films that the exam board suggests are relevant.

Oh I thought the school were planning on letting the kids watch it!!

Ds's English Teacher wanted to show Sixth Sense to 10 year olds in the lesson - NO fucking way!