School Ties

Cast is mainly White men and boys, with female character purely as love interest. Film strongly advocates for freedom of religion, but the antisemitic views and language throughout -- including phrases like "I Jewed him down" to refer to bargaining, a swastika painted above Jewish character's bed, plus slurs like "hebe," "kike," and "sheeny" -- may be difficult to watch. The main Jewish character is a well-rounded positive role model. (He's played by Brendan Fraser, who isn't Jewish.) The "N" word is used by a bullying character who says, "He must be half ("N" word) -- he can really dance."

Fistfight turns into a brawl, including punches to the face, blood, hitting, kicking, and antisemitic verbal aggression, such as shouts of "get the Jew." Other physical tussles. Character jokingly says: "I'll use this razor to cut my throat." Teen is shown in distress on the floor and referred to as having a "nervous breakdown." Passing mention of suicide by hanging.

Occasional sexual references. Kiss on the cheek. Full nudity from behind while teen boys are showering.

Frequent language includes "bastard," "s--t," "holy s--t," "bulls--t," "pr--k," "cretin," "ass," "a--hole," "pissed," "hell," "butt," "son of a bitch," "t-t," "c--k," "screw you," "jerk," "runt," "goddamn," and "Jesus" as an exclamation. Antisemitic language includes "sheeny bastard," "hebe," "kike," "fink," and "dirty Jew." The "N" word is also used.

Teens and adults smoke cigarettes. Adults drink with dinner, and underage teens drink at a bar. Passing mention of a drinking problem, though not in reference to a main character.

Parents need to know that School Ties is an early 1990s drama set in the 1950s about a Jewish teen (Brendan Fraser) who gets a football scholarship to an elite boys' prep school. He is a good role model in showing integrity in the face of others' bigotry and bad behavior. The cast also includes well-known names like Matt Damon, Chris O'Donnell, and Ben Affleck. Antisemitism is expressed by both adults and youngsters. Most older kids will understand that the movie aims to communicate how wrong this behavior is, but parents may want to discuss the topic further. There's smoking and a scene involving underage drinking, occasional sexual references, and a kiss on the lips and full nudity from behind during a boys' shower scene. Frequent strong language includes "s--t," "ass," and "bitch," as well as racial slurs such as "hebe," "kike," and the "N" word. A teen has "a nervous breakdown" caused by a bad French grade and is seen in great distress laying on the floor. This drama has adult themes that may not be appropriate for children and younger teens.

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