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Amarcord

(1973, Rated R, Fantasy, Starring Pupella Maggio, Armando Brancia, Magali Noel)

  • 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?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Surreal history lesson not for most teens.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–17

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Adults and children act with equal mischief and abandon, playing pranks, urinating in public, screaming irrationally, and vandalizing private property.

  • Violence:

    Fascists force a man to drink Castor oil; a mischievous boy nearly drops a heavy stone onto an infant.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    "A**hole", "Up yours", references to body parts.

  • Consumerism:

    Mock Fascist propaganda and slogans.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Amarcord

Parents need to know that this movie is a surreal film where adults often act like children and vice versa, so there are no discernible characters to uphold regular roles of authority. The only influence given respect is Mussolini's regime. Gunshots, clownish street peddlers, prostitutes, and dysfunctional families are the norm. A teacher smokes pot in front of his students, kids smoke in the bathroom; patrons drink cocktails at a soiree. Kids are given adult motives and desires: a jealous toddler tries to get rid of his newborn brother by dropping a rock onto him while he sleeps in his crib; a pleasure-seeking woman bares her breasts to seduce an ingénue, then promptly abandons him after the deed is done; a young boy suffers the loss of his mother.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Italian history in the 1930s, the definition of fascism, and the role of government in every day life. How does Mussolini's fascist regime differ from a democracy like that of the U.S.? Families may want to use this opportunity to discuss how the film comments on adolescence and the need for quality role models.
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