Parents' Guide to

Beyond Borders

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Important issues buried in soap opera silliness.

Movie R 2003 127 minutes
Beyond Borders Poster Image

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What's the Story?

BEYOND BORDERS follows the romance of two relief workers over a 10-year period. It opens at a fancy fundraiser, where Sarah (Angelina Jolie) is having a nice time dancing with her new husband until Nick (Clive Owen) bursts in and accuses the organization of cutting off his funding. Sarah realizes the superficiality of supporting relief efforts with fancy parties, and empties out her bank account so that she can deliver food to Nick's camp in Ethiopia. He patronizes and ignores her, but is moved by her dedication to a child he thought was beyond help. Four years later, Sarah, working full-time for the UN, unhappy with her husband but devoted to their son, encounters Nick again in a Cambodian camp for Khmer Rouge victims. They meet once more in Chechnya.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This important and affecting story about relief workers gets buried under a syrupy romance as Jolie and Owen gaze longingly at each other across starving and injured people. Director Martin Campbell is much more comfortable with the action scenes than with the romance.

The tension and tragedy and the very different atmosphere of the different locations are vividly portrayed. But the romance serves as a soapy distraction that ultimately does a real disservice to the issues the movie raises and the extraordinary commitment and achievements of the real-life relief workers it attempts to honor.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Sarah, Elliot, and Nick decide what compromises they will and will not make.

Movie Details

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