Empire of Light

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Empire of Light
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Empire of Light is a British romantic drama with themes around mental health and racism, and has strong language, smoking, and a number of non-graphic sex scenes. Olivia Colman plays Hilary, a lonely woman with a history of mental health issues. Her outlook on life becomes improved when she starts a relationship with the kind and compassionate Stephen (Micheal Ward), a much younger man who starts a job at the movie theater where Hilary works. The sex scenes between the two are not explicit with no nudity. There is one scene, however, which involves a character masturbating another, and sexual language is used. Other language includes "bitch," "s--t," and variants of "f--k." There are also scenes involving racist language and violence. Stephen, who is Black, is attacked by a group of racists. He is punched and kicked, resulting in him being taken to hospital. Set during the 1980s, most of the characters smoke. There is also drinking, although mostly in moderation. Hilary does appear drunk in one scene, when behaving erratically, although this is also due to a breakdown of her mental health.
What's the Story?
Set in the early 1980s on the coast of England, EMPIRE OF LIGHT finds Hilary (Olivia Colman) lonely and struggling with her mental health. But when a young man called Stephen (Micheal Ward) gets a job at the movie theater where Hilary works, the two begin a relationship that brings meaning to her life.
Is It Any Good?
Written and directed by Sam Mendes, this British romantic drama is a celebration of both cinema and the importance of human relationships. Empire of Light also tackles themes around racism, mental health, and abuse of power within the workplace, which are all packaged up into a beautiful looking movie. The problem is that these are big themes and ones that need exploring thoroughly and with due care, rather than being used as plot points to jump back and forth.
That's not to say there's not much to enjoy from the film. As mentioned, Roger Deakins' cinematography looks incredible, and the two central performances are just as impressive. Colman is given license to show her full skillset, with Hilary ranging from quiet to manic. While Ward more than holds his own as Hilary's younger and kind lover, Stephen. The soundtrack also packs a punch, Mendes once again recruiting the talents of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. But it's perhaps because of this wealth of talent that Empire of Light leaves you feeling a little short changed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how mental illness was portrayed in Empire of Light. How was Hilary's mental health portrayed? Did you think it was an accurate portrayal? Discuss how mental illness is portrayed in other movies you may have seen.
Discuss the racism portrayed within the movie. Do you think things have changed from when the movie was set? How to talk with kids about racism and racial violence.
How did the film portray sex? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
In what ways did Stephen demonstrate compassion and empathy? Why are these important character strengths? Can you think of a time when you've demonstrated these traits?
Talk about the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 9, 2022
- Cast: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth
- Director: Sam Mendes
- Studio: Searchlight Pictures
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Friendship
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Empathy
- Run time: 119 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: sexual content, language and brief violence
- Last updated: January 29, 2023
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