This is a really reallly goood period drama, it beats Jane Austen's work if you ask me, however it is quite slow in parts and its all about young love, so its probably more appealing to girls than it is to guys, even tho im a guy and I thoroughly enjoyed it. As I said before, its slow paced and gentle, but there is nothing innapropriate i can think of, no sex, violence, drugs or anything, we briefly see a cut in a girls wrist, two men die of TB and the ending is quite sad and could be very upsetting, but its a lovely, beautiful film, and I highly reccomend it to people interested in these kinds of films.
Bright Star
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Romantic, moving film brings poet -- and poetry -- to life.
Themes in this movie include: dating/crushes, family relationships, friendship, honesty
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 12 and Up
The good stuff
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Bright Star was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
Parents need to know that this moving period romance is tame on the surface -- there's virtually no violence, sex, strong language or other iffy content -- but it has an undercurrent of sexual longing fueled by social barriers that complicate the characters' ability to be with the people they love. And though the story is told with a great deal of grace, it does have a bit of grit (but virtually no violence, sex, strong language, or other iffy content). First, there’s the consumption that finally claims poet John Keats -- its progression is delicately but truthfully depicted. Also, Keats' best friend is dismissive of those with no interest in poetry (i.e., Fanny, who's passionate about sewing instead), and there’s some discussion about Fanny’s virginity, but the conversations are oblique (and nothing more than kissing and hand-holding is shown on screen).
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about John and Fanny's relationship. Why do so many characters seem to think that they don't belong together? What were the stakes for young lovers at that time, especially for women? How did those stakes vary by social class?
- Why do you think Keats doesn't press Fanny for a physical relationship? Was society's view of sex different in their time?
- Does it seem like poetry was more appreciated during Keats' than it is now? If yes, why? Who are the famous poets' modern-day counterparts?
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More on Bright Star
What’s the Story?
Opposites attract in BRIGHT STAR, director Jane Campion’s affecting portrait of the enduring love that develops between 19th-century Romantic poet John Keats (Ben Whishaw), and his Hampstead neighbor, Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish). Keats, then 23, was a struggling writer, while 18-year-old Fanny was a fashionable flirt with a gift for sewing and no interest in the art of words. But you can't choose who you fall in love with -- you're summoned. And summoned they are, despite Keats’ inability to support a family, let alone himself. And when he’s stricken with tuberculosis, the young lovers' odds don't improve.
Is It Any Good?
Period dramas often stumble because they can feel like play acting. Viewers are keenly aware that the events took place long ago, if at all, and are rarely invested in what they see. Bright Star isn’t hobbled like this. It enfolds you in remarkable beauty, while also being grounded in a palpable sense of time and place. Campion brings the heath to life, and it’s glorious to witness to Keats’ and Brawne’s relationship. There’s a grace to the director's storytelling, and in her capable hands, both love and poetry become accessible.
But this is no fairy tale, either. Campion deftly explores class differences and artistic pressures as well as budding romance. Whishaw, as Keats, broods and contemplates (as poets do) without coming off as clichéd -- when he struggles to write, it’s as if he's truly wrestling with words, and when his poems are finally read, they stun. Cornish is so authentic that you'll forget she’s no 19th-century maiden; dialogue isn't just dialogue when she says it, and love no mere plot point when she feels it. Authenticity, in fact, permeates the whole movie. When Keats and Fanny place their hands on the wall separating their rooms, each on opposite sides, we feel privy to a genuine moment between two people helplessly enamored of each other.
Movie Details
Studio: Miramax, Director: Jane Campion
Run time: 119 minutes
Theatrical release: 9/18/2009, DVD release: 1/26/2010
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements, some sensuality, brief language and incidental smoking
Run time: 119 minutes
Theatrical release: 9/18/2009, DVD release: 1/26/2010
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements, some sensuality, brief language and incidental smoking
Our Members Say
See all 4 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Fantastic movie, but qutie slow..
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Fantastic movie, but qutie slow..
This is a really reallly goood period drama, it beats Jane Austen's work if you ask me, however it is quite slow in parts and its all about young love, so its probably more appealing to girls than it is to guys, even tho im a guy and I thoroughly enjoyed it. As I said before, its slow paced and gentle, but there is nothing innapropriate i can think of, no sex, violence, drugs or anything, we briefly see a cut in a girls wrist, two men die of TB and the ending is quite sad and could be very upsetting, but its a lovely, beautiful film, and I highly reccomend it to people interested in these kinds of films.
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
Probably better for older teens
I think the love story was very intense and the subject matter was not of interest to most 12 year olds. They found it hard to follow and understand. The moms did enjoy though! Just don't think most 12 years would enjoy!
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
want to see this movie!
I haven't seen this movie yet but I really want to! I love old-fashioned-styled movies like this and love all the costumes!
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Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
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