Colette

A riot breaks out at a stage performance because of scandal/intolerance: People shove, kick, punch one another. A man throws objects at a trans person. A duel is proposed to settle an injustice, but nothing comes of it. Arguing, yelling, confrontations. Willy locks Colette in a room against her will.

Film is about a woman who discovers her own bisexuality and writes about it, causing cultural sensation. Colette is a young, open-minded woman who enjoys sex. She has implied premarital sex with her future husband; after they're married, they kiss, embrace, have sex (with thrusts and grunts). Also same-sex kissing/sex, with breasts exposed. Graphic gestures (taking place under the blanket) during a sex scene between a woman and her lover. Intentionally provocative theater performances involve two women kissing; a woman's blouse is ripped off in the name of art. Flirting, innuendo. While sex and talk of it dominates much of plot, it's always consensual; all the women are in control of their sexuality.

Strong language includes "bastards," "bitch," "damn you," "hell," "horses--t," "piss," "s--t," and "tart." Also sexual words/phrases, including "carnal ecstasy," "sexual quagmire," and "ménage à trois."

Wine is seen on the table at nearly every meal. Champagne flows at parties and celebrations.

Parents need to know that Colette is a biographical drama about French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (Keira Knightley), who wrote mainstream erotica that turned Paris on its ear at the turn of the 20th century. As you might expect, there's lots of sex: marital, premarital, extramarital, opposite-sex, and same-sex. Most of it isn't gratuitous, but noises are heard, motions are seen, and there's partial nudity (bare breasts). There's also quite a bit of conversation about sex, but the words are so elegantly phrased that it doesn't seem quite as naughty as it must have been a century ago. Characters do curse, too, though, including "s--t" and "bitch." They also drink, yell at each other, and get into confrontations that sometimes turn physical. Colette is a free spirit who operates with integrity and without prejudice; she's portrayed as a strong, independent-thinking trailblazer who pushed the boundaries of women's sexual and professional roles in society, thanks in part to people who encouraged her to live authentically. It's historically fascinating, but the movie's mature themes and extramarital liaisons make it age-appropriate for older teens only.

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