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The Century: America's Time

(1998, Rated NR, Documentary, Starring Peter Jennings, Oliver Stone, Eudora Welty)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 9, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.
  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    A compelling introduction to American history.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
  • Violence:

    There are images of war from the two World Wars, Korea and Vietnam.
  • Sex:

    Sex is discussed as a social trend in the 1920s, 1940s, and 1960s.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Century: America's Time

Parents need to know that this film weaves together fascinating aspects of history in a thought-provoking manner. All of the major social and political issues faced by America in the 20th Century are explored. In general, this is best viewed by teens, as younger children may not understand the content. But the episodes may prove a good basis for future learning for young children if viewed in small chunks. Teens and adults will find the series as entertaining as it is educational. But serious issuesare discussed. Glimpses of lynchings and war atrocities are brief, but still may disturb some viewers. This series deals with social trends like racism and AIDS in an objective way, making a good introduction for family discussion.

Read our full review by M. Faust

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how specific 20th century events compare to 21st century events. What do you think has been learned from the 20th century, and how is it being addressed today? Families can also discuss the serious themes raised in the film. How have racism, sexism, and anti-semitism changed over time?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Kentucky
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    Love it!

    We watch these movies in history class all the time, and I LOVE them. They present American history so clearly and plain that history class isn't as boring as usual when we watch these. I will warn you, though, there are some graphic images from the Holocaust in one of the movies that can be horrifying. However, these movies are very good education tools. On on on!

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