Golden Door (PG-13, 2007)
common sense media says
Punishing but eye-opening immigrant tale.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that even though this subtitled period drama is rated PG-13, it's actually quite tame in terms of language and nudity (a communal shower scene at Ellis Island shows everything except genitalia, but it's not at all sexual), so there's little to worry about there if older tweens and young teens are interested. That said, the story is an unvarnished look at immigration, and some scenes can be disturbing (passengers get crushed during very rough seas). Also, some of the immigrants' experiences -- from why they married strangers to the strange questions they had to answer at Ellis Island -- may need explanations.
Violence:
When the ship hits rough seas, third-class passengers are viciously thrown about in their crowded spaces; some are crushed to death, and the resulting aftermath is dismaying/upsetting. Occasionally, two brothers swat at and shove each other.
Sex:
Salvatore and Lucy flirt, but only through looks. A young man sneaks into the women's area in steerage and surreptitiously smells a sleeping woman's underwear -- while she's still wearing it. A few scenes at Ellis Island show both men and women naked (everything is visible except for genitalia) in communal showers.
Language:
Nothing more colorful than "idiot" and "blockhead."
Consumerism:
None, except perhaps a nostalgic pitch for that land of plenty, America.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Some immigrants smoke cigarettes. Bottles of wine are brought on the ship as possessions.
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