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Silk

(2007, Rated R, Drama, Starring Alfred Molina, Keira Knightley, Michael Pitt)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    2.0

  • Common Sense says

    Dull period drama goes for sensuality over story.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–16

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    A married man is unfaithful; he trespasses into a country that forbids Westerners; he also visits a brothel (but doesn't avail himself of its services). Nevertheless, he's also devoted to his wife and helps care for a child abandoned by its father. He also risks his life to help save his village from financial ruin.

  • Violence:

    A gun trader passes through a small Japanese village with his wares; Herve sees burned buildings and dead bodies after war comes to the village. A teenage boy is hanged (viewers see his dangling body) for breaking the local leader's rules. The leader threatens Herve with a gun.

  • Sex:

    Sensual love scenes include naked breasts (some seen in close-up) and simulated intercourse (one of the scenes is an adulterous encounter). Men are also briefly seen naked in profile. Other intimate interactions between characters include a scene in which a woman caresses a man while he's in the bath, and another in which a man observes a naked woman bathing in a hot spring.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some sake-drinking and toasting; some other social drinking and smoking (accurate for the time period). Nothing excessive.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Silk

Parents need to know that the only thing that's likely to draw teens to this slow-moving period drama is the fact that star Keira Knightley bares her breasts in one of the film's sensual love scenes. She's not the only one; two other women are shown topless as well, and men are briefly seen naked in profile. On the plus side, there's no profanity and not much violence (though a teenage character is shown hanged, and the main character comes across some burned dead bodies in a ruined village). But the movie's subjects -- the true measure of love and the cost of infidelity -- are definitely aimed more at adults than younger viewers.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what message the film sends about love and commitment. Was it necessary for Herve to risk his life to be able to find out, in the end, what love means? Why do so many movies and TV shows depict men (and women) who seem to find it difficult to commit to or accept the love that's before them? What's the fascination with the unknown? Why does it always seem like such a difficult choice to be loyal? Is it that hard in real life?
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