Flashdance

The story centers around ambitious, thoughtful young women who are following their dreams. While women are critical to the plot, the camera -- handled by a male director and male cinematographer -- focuses a lot on their bottoms and legs in revealing outfits. Class conflict is explored in Alex's complicated relationship with Nick, her older, wealthier boss. Alex is played by Jennifer Beals (a biracial Black and White actor), and secondary character Heels is played by Durga McBroom (a Black singer and actor), but most other characters/actors are White. One character makes derogatory jokes about "Polacks" and lesbians. A positive representation of people over 80 years old in Hanna, Alex's mentor and friend.

A fistfight results in a bloody, broken nose. Characters slap, shove, and punch each other, and a woman breaks her boyfriend's window. Men catcall and grab women without consent. Alex doesn't wear a bike helmet or seatbelt. Brief joke about suicide. A character passes away peacefully. The central romance is consensual and portrayed positively, but the boss-employee relationship could warrant further discussion about power dynamics and sexual coercion.

Two men are briefly shirtless, and women's bare bottoms and breasts are shown during a scene at a strip club. Women wear leotards, swimsuits, and underwear to dance and work out, and the camera focuses a lot on their bottoms and legs. Characters flirt and kiss, touch breasts and groins over clothes, and a couple cuddles in bed. Sexual jokes about body parts, "porking," "blow jobs," etc.

Different versions of "f--k," plus "a--hole," "s--t," "goddamn," "son of a bitch," "pissed," and "sucks." The villain calls women "c--ts," "bimbos," and "whores." Other derogatory terms include "honky," "Polack," "crazy." Crude sexual references to body parts, "porking," "blow jobs," etc.

Occasional cigarette and cigar smoking. Characters drink beer and wine in bars and restaurants, and there's one mention of weed.

Parents need to know that Flashdance is a 1980s romantic drama about a young working-class welder with a passion for dance and a dream of attending ballet school. The film focuses on women bravely following their dreams and persevering even when they don't succeed, but the camera -- handled by a male director and male cinematographer -- focuses a lot on women's bottoms and legs while they're dancing in revealing outfits. Many scenes take place in bars with drinking and smoking, and there's a brief visit to a strip club (with naked breasts and bottoms on display). Strong language includes "c--t" and "f--k," as well as derogatory jokes about "Polacks" and lesbians. Main character Alex is played by Jennifer Beals (a biracial Black and White actor), but most characters are White.

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