Bombay Rose

Parents need to know that Bombay Rose is an animated romance featuring beautiful art and music. Based on the same characters in director Gitanjali Rao's animated short, "True Love Story," this romance between two wayward souls is slow, sad, and a little haunting. Some of the material isn't for kids, like its stories of child sexual abuse and forced sex work. One character displays a consistent general violence and creepiness toward women. Mix in a healthy dose of the harsh realities of the Mumbai streets, obstacles to the lovers' future, and a few secrets to round out the drama. Some characters also turn into eagles, flying horses, and other culturally-significant mythical and historical creatures. Characters slip into dreams, whether they be about being a Bollywood star on the big screen or appearing as historical lovers. While there are some vaguely positive messages and characterizations, the feeling of the film is mostly somber. Also, the romance is very distant. Visually, the animation is painterly and colorful, and not without a kind of dream-like quality (the characters also often drift off into dreams). Characters face racism, violence, the threat of forced or coerced sex work, and generally tough daily lives. One story of a man selling off his young daughter to a pedophilic "old man" and the story of their eventual escape. An older woman dies by suicide and a man gets hit by a car and dies. Some fighting and a few chase scenes. Most adult characters constantly smoke cigarettes. Some drinking and mild language ("hell," "damn," "whore"). To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.