Movie Review: December Boys
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that underage boys secretly smoke,
drink beer and wine, and try to catch glimpses of women in
states of undress. Their attempts are amateurish and relatively
innocent. One scene dramatizes an adolescent boy's introduction
to kissing and sexuality by a precocious girl slightly older,
but experienced. No nudity involved, but there is kissing,
suggestive touching, and a clear implication that sexual
intercourse takes place when the scene ends. The fact that
Maps, the boy involved, is played by
Daniel
Radcliffe, best known as Harry Potter, adds to the
provocative nature of the scene.
Families can talk about the fact that this film is set in the 1960s. What's different about growing up now? What's the same? The December Boys encounter a variety of adults in a small town. How do the boys change as they get to know different people? What did the filmmakers hope to say about what diverse people bring to our lives?
Common Sense Media Review
Four young friends from an Australian orphanage, all with
birthdays in December, receive a surprise two-week Christmas
holiday in a small, close-knit seaside village. Once there, in
the midst of the generous, homespun, and occasionally eccentric
members of the community, the boys learn that one of them may
be adopted by an idealized local couple. The competition that
arises among them threatens their friendship and their loyalty.
At the same time, Maps, the oldest of the boys, falls in love
with the beautiful niece of one of the residents and is forced
to come to terms with some decidedly adult emotions and
actions.
This is a beautifully photographed and deceptively simple film. Australia has never looked so wonderful. The people who impact the lives of the four orphans are revealed to have complex and often difficult stories themselves. Part of the boys' journey is learning how first impressions are often deceiving. Their coming-of-age involves more than the usual pain of self-awareness. DECEMBER BOYS takes into account the intricacies and nuances of the human heart, and respect for and deeper understanding of others. The sexual encounter between Maps and Lucy is the one element of the movie that makes it questionable for younger kids and not-quite-so-mature teens.
Other coming-of-age movies families might enjoy are The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants , Man in the Moon, and King of the Hill, a little seen, but wonderful Steven Soderbergh movie set in the 1930s. For older teens and up, there's the orphan drama The Cider House Rules .
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
