Titanic argument about Slumdog Millionnaire

[Quattrocento]

About once a month or so, I dragoon the family into watching a family DVD. Yesterday the DVD of choice (mine and DDs) happened to be Slumdog Millionnaire.

The film is 15-rated. The DCs are 9&11. I must say at the outset that I had not realised the film was a 15-rating. I thought it was suitable for children because a friend had taken her DCs to the cinema to see it (15, and 13x2).

Be that as it may, we were all safely esconced in the living room, with DSIL&Co when the opening scene, which contains some violence, appeared. For those who haven't seen the film, he was in police custody having electric shocks administered.

DH ERUPTED, and started shouting immoderately that this was totally unsuitable for children and after 5 minutes of shouting switched over to Robin Hood. Where several people were shot and one person was stabbed. I pointed this out and DH stormed out of the room.

I just wanted to fast-forward through the violent bits of SM. I wanted the DCs to watch it just to get some appreciation of what life is like for some children.

Obviously I was being unreasonable not to have checked the film classification but why couldn't we just watch the thing once it was here? And scoot through the violent bits?

No you don't, anna, but I hear the insinuation there that it isn't a very large city so I can't really comment.

"If I have any control over it" is a wise disclaimer. I find DD (11) has, erm, a lot of visibility of books, songs, films and words than I think she might have.

I got the DVD thinking I was getting a feelgood film.
Feelgood my arse Great film, but god it left me depressed

I don't ban anything, quatt. But I do know what films dd1 wacthes as she wants to tell me. Might not always be like that.

My 12 year old DS watched this film with his father, who is a certificator for TV - i.e. he decides what time films and programmes can be broadcast according to their content.

DS says the only distressing scene he can recall is the opening scene of torture at the police station, which is quite short. He can't remember the blinding scene and doesn't think any of the rest of the film is particularly disturbing in terms of violence.

He says the film is absolutely GREAT, and made him think a lot about how lucky we are in the West.

DS's father borrowed the DVD from a friend who is a Media Studies teacher. She watched it with her 11 year old DD and recommended it very highly to him.

It really depends on your child. I would have thought 9 is a bit young TBH. But DS and his 11 year old friend are both very precocious in their reading and film tastes (both addicted to Japanese anime/Gothic genre novels for example). They also have parents who will watch with them and discuss difficult themes and ishoos, as I'm quite sure Quattrocentro does!

That's interesting MrsF.

Someone lower down the thread mentioned a rape scene? Where was that btw? I don't remember one. Am I getting very forgetful or did I miss something?

There is one scene which hints at a possible rape about to occur (in a brothel). But it isn't overt and would probably be missed by a child.

Oh thanks MrsF. I thought they might have meant the scene at the hotel where the door was firmly closed on whatever ensued. Anyhow there was no sex (either consensual or otherwise) in the film I saw. One kiss. No snogs.

Yes, that's the scene I meant.

All kids are different. In case you suspect my DS might be a hardened little proto-Goth, I ought to mention that he has been in floods of tears all weekend over an injured pigeon he found when coming home from piano lesson on Thursday. He and DH took it to the nearest vet and we awaiting news of it's fate...

I think the bit where a child is blinded with acid is the most upsetting bit for a child

I agree that the blinding scene is upsetting.

Yes ffwded through that bit - think that's the worst scene - had to catch up with it later. Must admit this made the later scene with the blind boy kind of nonsensical.