Common Sense Media Review
By Tracey Petherick
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intense mental illness drama has dark humor, salty language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Eternal Beauty
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
ETERNAL BEAUTY tells the story of Jane (Sally Hawkins), a middle-aged woman who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia after being jilted on her wedding day many years ago. Now living semi-independently, she relies on medication to help control her mood swings, hallucinations, and tendency to hear voices. When she meets Mike (David Thewlis), a musician with his own mental health challenges, she begins to see life differently and decides to stop taking her pills. But this new romance, as well as difficult relationships with her dysfunctional family, may not be what Jane needs to bring stability and happiness to her life.
Is It Any Good?
Raw, imaginative, and eye-opening, this darkly comic drama is a haunting insight into mental illness in the 1970s and 1980s -- though you can't help wondering how much has changed since then. Hawkins gives an incredible performance as paranoid schizophrenic Jane, as warm and well-meaning as she is unreasonable and unnerving. With a supporting cast including a vile Penelope Wilton, an odious Billie Piper, and an anguished Alice Lowe, we know we are in safe -- if somber -- hands.
As the drama switches between real life and Jane's troubled imagination, we're often left wondering how much of this disturbing experience is reality or fantasy. But while it may be painful to watch, there is a sensitivity to the storytelling that is testament to writer-director Craig Roberts' talent -- having the intuition to be both restrained and outlandish. He even manages some moments of tenderness and levity. It's hard to pull off humor amid such a bleak tale, but much of the comedy -- though dark and often steeped in irony -- is well-judged. You won't walk away feeling uplifted, but you will have seen some glimmers of hope in an otherwise tragic tale of tortured souls.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way mental illness is depicted in Eternal Beauty. How is Jane's illness treated -- both medically and culturally? Did it seem a realistic portrayal to you? How do you think things have changed since the 1970s and 1980s, when the movie was set?
Talk about the strong language in the movie. Does it seem necessary or excessive? What does it contribute to the movie?
How is sex portrayed in the movie. Is it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Although many of the film's characters are flawed, they are also realistic. Are any of them good role models? Did you relate to any of them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 2, 2020
- On DVD or streaming : October 2, 2020
- Cast : David Thewlis , Billie Piper , Sally Hawkins
- Director : Craig Roberts
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Samuel Goldwyn Films
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 95 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language and some sexuality
- Last updated : April 29, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate