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Parents' Guide to

Another Earth

By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Downbeat indie drama with sci-fi angle has mature themes.

Movie PG-13 2011 92 minutes
Another Earth Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

ssaustin1999
ssaustin1999 Parent of 10-year-old
February 19, 2012
age 15+

2.5 stars? Better for Adults

I would caution parents that this film is really for adults or mature teenagers. Although the film does serve as a strong caution against drunk driving,the gruesome car crash, sex, and attempted suicide may be too much for some young people. As the other review here mentions, the characters never make it to "another earth", but the ideas presented are somewhat interesting (if a parallel earth existed, what would it be like to meet yourself? what would you say? would you even recognize yourself? what are the implications for the two earths if the citizens meet? etc.) If you're letting your kids watch it, be ready to answer a lot of questions.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

After celebrating her acceptance into MIT, Rhoda (Brit Marling) is driving home, drunk, when she hears on the radio news of a new planet; it has an atmosphere and water and continents and is visible to the naked eye. While peering into the night sky, she crashes into a stopped car, killing a mother and son and sending the father into a coma. Four years later, Rhoda gets out of jail and decides to visit the man, composer John Burroughs (William Mapother), to apologize. At the last second, she loses her courage and tells a lie about working for a cleaning company. They slowly get to know each other and bring hope back into each other's lives. But what happens when the truth comes out, and what's the secret behind the other earth?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (4 ):

Marling and director Mike Cahill teamed up to write this screenplay, cleverly weaving a science-fiction element -- the concept of an alternate earth -- into the drama. That idea works beautifully, and it adds new layers of questions about who we are, our destiny, etc. This is most welcome, since the movie's main plot is pretty creaky. Like the laziest of Hollywood romantic comedies, it's based on the stretching of a lie. (Rhoda must convince John that she's just a cleaning lady rather than the driver who killed his family.)

Overall, the film's genuinely touching side overpowers the hackneyed stuff. Aside from the lofty, thoughtful subtext surrounding the drama, Cahill and Marling zoom in for a nicely focused set of characters and performances. Marling is in nearly every shot, and she's magnetic, conveying a lifetime's worth of hurt and beauty. Likewise, Kumar Pallana -- best known for his supporting roles in Wes Anderson's films -- provides some small, lovely, thoughtful moments.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's violent scenes. How does their impact compare to what you see in bigger sci-fi/action movies? What is the purpose of the graphic scenes in this movie?

  • What would it mean to visit an alternate earth? Would you want to meet yourself? Are there any decisions you'd change if you could?

  • How does the movie portray drinking and its consequences?

Movie Details

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