 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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Girl, Positive
- Review Date: June 21, 2007
- NR
- Genre: Drama
- 2010
Common Sense Media says
Frank, thoughtful look at teen sexuality and HIV.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this made-for-TV movie takes a frank look at teen sexuality. The young characters all discuss promiscuity, unsafe sex, drug use, and their assumed invincibility to STDs at length -- as well as their belief that parents are more judgmental than understanding. (Teen viewers might not be surprised by the characters' active sex lives, but parents could be -- consider this a wake-up call!) The movie works to dispel common myths associated with HIV, including how it is (and isn't) contracted, who's at risk, and how much exposure is required to infect a person. Teens drink, use drugs, text- and instant-message each other constantly, and get pretty intimate (though the movie stops short of nudity), but there's no language or violence to speak of.
What's the story?
In GIRL, POSITIVE, an unsuspecting teen faces the reality of HIV. Rachel Sandler (Andrea Bowen of Desperate Housewives) is a popular high school senior with a bright future. But when word spreads in her quiet community that the all-around golden boy at her school (who died in a car accident) was using intravenous drugs, Rachel receives a mysterious email claiming that he was HIV-positive. She realizes she is also at risk since they had a one-night-stand -- and didn't use a condom. The story follows Rachel as she discovers she has HIV; is befriended by her teacher, Sarah Bennett (Jennie Garth of Beverly Hills, 90210), who has been living with the virus for years; and finally confides in her boyfriend, Greg (Evan Gamble), whose shock turns to anger and then blame. As rumors start circulating, Rachel must face the consequences of her bad judgment.
Is it any good?
Girl, Positive is an eye-opening look at the image-driven nature of teen life, where sexuality is a big part of popularity. Throughout the movie, one of the students gathers video clips for a school blog; these one-on-one conversations reflect the sense of invincibility and lack of knowledge that many teens have about STDs in general -- and HIV in particular. They talk openly about hooking up with multiple partners, the physical drawbacks of using a condom, and the fact that most of them have never had honest discussions about sex with their parents. The movie works hard to dispel misconceptions about HIV: "It won't happen to me," "That's a disease for gays," and "I had unprotected sex, but only one time."
You may find your teens balking at the idea of watching a movie like this with you, but Girl, Positive is so well done that it's worth the time, and hopefully will generate a frank discussion about the decision to have sex and the importance of protecting yourself.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about teens and sex. Teens: How does this movie compare to your own experiences? Are the characters and subject matter relatable? What parts seemed less realistic?
Do you and your friends talk about sex the way the kids in the movie do?
Is there pressure to have sex as a teenager? Where does that pressure
come from?What messages does the media send about sex and sexuality?
Parents can also encourage a frank discussion about sex, STDs, and methods of protection.
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- Teens & kids
AGE
False information
Positive Girl. How can they get away with such lies.?
The web site for the scare AIDS movie claims: -
Half of all new HIV infections occur in people under age 25 — one fourth in people under age 21. — U.S. Office of National AIDS
WELL THEN EXPLAIN THIS
THE TRUTH (if you believe in 'AIDS') FROM CDC SITE
People under 25 diagonised in 2005
Just 2604 cases
Total of all ages 45,669
THAT IS JUST 17.549% of cases not HALF
*://*cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillan...
Table 3. Estimated numbers of AIDS cases, by year of diagnosis and selected characteristics, 2001–2005 and cumulative—United States and dependent areas
and teen cases (14 - 19) were just 476 in all of America.
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AGE
Needs to be told more than once a year!
I think this movie was awesome. However, the ending was not very good because it left you wanting more much like a prime time tv series would.
I think there needs to be more AIDS/ HIV education today, because we are rarely seeing it, and many kids (pre teens and teens) have no idea how you really get it. Some even think there is a cure, or that the medications solve all the problems. Point blank- we need more media like this now. We need all education on safer sex, abstinance, etc; etc;
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AGE
Every tenn should see
This movie puts into perspective that "it'll never happen to me" attitude. It is well done, with no explicit sceens, just hints of sexual behavior. Drug abuse is more prevalent, with a shot of a guy actually injecting heroin. But the message is clear, don't think that it can't happen to you, and yes it can happen with just "one time". If an when i have children of my own. when they reach the age of 13 they will be watching this movie.
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| Studio: | A&E Home Video |
| Director: | Peter Werner |
| Cast: | Amanda Bowen, Jennie Garth, S. Epatha Merkerson |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 88 minutes |
| DVD release date: | April 27, 2010 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
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