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Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus

(2006, Rated R, Drama, Starring Robert Downey Jr., Nicole Kidman, Ty Burrell)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 16.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Biopic is smart, but leaves questions unanswered.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–17

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Diane's attraction to Lionel leads to an adulterous night and rejection of her family.

  • Violence:

    A character commits suicide.

  • Sex:

    Pervasive metaphorical and explicit sexuality; full-frontal nudity in first and last scenes (set in a nudist camp); repressed/early Diane reveals her bra on her porch, then worries about it; several scenes show Diane and her husband in bed. (They're intimate but strained: When she licks his wrist, he's embarrassed and pulls away.) Sex between Diane and Lionel (in bed, and also, more allusively, as she shaves off his fur); Lionel asks Diane provocative questions about her desires; mild S&M scene (couple dances, in costume); sensual visuals of fur and some objects (camera, razor).

  • Language:

    Some language: "f--k" (5+), "t-ts," "Jesus Christ!"

  • Consumerism:

    Vintage magazine covers (Vogue, Harper's Bazaar); 1950s products (Chock Full o' Nuts coffee, Sunbeam bread) -- all used to establish scene/era, rather than for promotion, per se.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Plenty of social drinking (martinis, wine, scotch); cigarette smoking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus

Parents need to know that this mature biopic about edgy photographer Diane Arbus isn't for kids. It includes explicit nudity (body parts and full frontal at a nudist community), and some sexual activity. The subjects of Arbus' photos include unusual fringe characters like sex workers, dwarfs, giants, twins, and nudists. Characters discuss adultery, depression, sexual desire, and suicide (one character kills himself); children worry about their mother's absences from home. Characters smoke cigarettes and do plenty of social drinking. Language includes at least five uses of "f--k."

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Diane's increasing distance from her family as she discovers her art. How does the movie suggest that her conventional existence -- as wife, mother, and assistant in her husband's business -- stifles her creativity? How does Diane learn about herself by meeting people outside her usual frame of reference? What purpose does introducing a fictional character (Lionel) into a biography serve? Why is it important to be able to express yourself creatively? What are your creative outlets?
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  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    *-*Hannah*-*Mont ...
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

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    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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