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'?

Where I live (Sweden) it has an 11 certificate so it can't be that bad

I saw the Polanski film in Y10 in 1989 and found it a bit grisly - clearly I’m not for this modern world .

But more surprised that Macbeth play/book/whatever would be on the syllabus for Y6/7. Shakespearean language isn’t easy, the plot ‘s quite complicated and there is a lot of gruesome murder/suicide (regardless of how it’s presented).

If it is the Roman Polanski one, YANBU. But I'm a bit dubious that it would be that one, as it isn't suitable for 11 year olds. There's a lot of nudity which is not necessary for the plot/referenced in the script.

See www.imdb.com/title/tt0067372/parentalguide:

One witch lifts her tunic briefly in front of Macbeth and Banquo. Her vulva is briefly exposed.

Macbeth is lead into a cave by a totally nude ugly witch (her breasts, buttocks, and vulva are exposed briefly) to find the three witches along with a large group (20 or 30) of other witches performing a naked ritual. Many breasts are shown, brief glimpses of buttocks and vulvas are also seen.

Macduff's prepubescent 12 year old son stands in the raw in front of his mother in a basin of water whilst she pours water over him and washes him. His penis, scrotum and buttocks are seen.

Lady Macbeth sleep walks bare naked over to a desk and sits down. Her servant and doctor watch her and talk about her. They then lead her, still naked, and lay her in bed. Her buttocks are frequently seen, her breasts are seen occasionally, and her vulva is seen briefly.

Lady Macduff walks out of her room and sees one of her servants being raped by three soldiers. No nudity is shown, but the screams her servant emits can be quite traumatic.

There's also scenes where the witches are all in the rudey nudey.

But it's really quite slow - I should imagine that most 11 year olds would have drifted off before anything actually happens.

More than anything I am surprised Macbeth itself is being 'studied' by 11 year olds!! It's a GCSE set text!

The more modern film with Michael Fassbender is very violent - a deserved 15. I wouldn't even show the Polanski one these days as it is dated and Polanski himself is a bit dubious...

That would be my expectation NotAgainYoda. A school should use the rating guidance. The maturity and experience of 11 year olds can vary enormously.

To randomly say that because it's from 1971 it will now be ok makes no sense.

Even people saying I watched it and it's ok, are irrelevant. Who makes that judgement for a whole year group?

Schools should have clear guidelines and stick to them. I would have expected permission from parents to show a film rated so much above the age of the students. 1971 or 2017. Teachers would then have been able to explain why they thought it was appropriate viewing for that age group. (Not whether Macbeth is a suitable play to study!)

Stick to ratings or ask parents.

If ds was say 14 it wouldn't bother me, but I just feel there's too much between 11 and 15. It's definitely the polanski version.

So long as it's not the Michael Fassbender one (as it's shit) I think you are probably being unreasonable.

I laughed through the Fassbender one.

Did they watch the whole film, or specific scenes?

The fassbender/coitilard production is more raunchy (with a sex scene) but a better version all round.
Also it explores her motivations and the grief at the loss of their child - which fleshes out her experience and makes far more sense of it.

I thought Polanski films are a no go because he’s a paedophile, and they have to give him royalties if they show it.

The rape scene is the only bit that would still be 15 if it were rated today. The nudity is fine. I would fast forward the rape bit if I were showing it to young pupils. But I wouldn't as its a GCSE text! I WISH primary schools would leave the more adult texts alone...

I’d forgotten about the Polanski rape scene..... it figures he’d have one though, doesn’t it? Not big on consent was/is he?

Sorry it was Macbeth!

The BBFC guidelines are clear that films slightly (let's say one year) above a child's age are allowed in an educational context (am a film teacher so know this!) but do recommend seeking consent or having a disclaimer on a school webpage or in a booklet (as I do for film)

they do not, however, endorse showing 11 year olds 15s : in fact they are very opposed to this! After all, they put al the hard work into deciding it was suitable fro person aged 15 and over!

The 1971 thing is a red herring : 15s didn't exist then. this si a recent DVD release decision made by the BBFC. See their website for details!

I'd definitely query this with the school, as I would teaching a violent and complex GCSE and above play as an English Lit through the sloppy medium of film....

I mean Hamlet! OK I'm off before I get anymore confused.

There is guidance out there on teaching Macbeth to 9-11 year olds. They read an edited version.
www.shakespeareandmore.com/macbeth.html

Well my ds is 13 and year 9 and I’ve (as have other parents) had to sign to say we agree they can watch a 15 in English.

I do have to admit I just signed it and although I know the film I didn’t even look up what it’s about

Did they definitely watch the whole thing? It's not unusual for teachers to pick and choose particular scenes.

Are you sure OP they watched this version of Macbeth, and they watched the whole film, not just particular scenes? I would be very surprised if a primary school did this, but could understand them showing selected scenes.

I'm more worried that schools are showing films directed by child molesters.

I would query why parental consent was not requested. I think showing a child a film certified above the child's age should be a parental decision.

It’s silly to show that version to 11 year olds. There’s a perfectly good BBC version which is less gory etc.

It is also silly to teach Macbeth to 11 year olds in my opinion. It works well Year 9 upwards as a GCSE text. Seems like an odd choice all round.

I personally am pretty strict about certificates with my pupils (much to their teasing and disgust).

They will have shown clips, not the whole film.