Ginger & Rosa
By S. Jhoanna Robledo,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Coming-of-age drama examines teenage anxieties.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Ginger & Rosa
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
Ginger (Elle Fanning) and Rosa (Alice Englert) have been friends since they were babies: Their mothers befriended each other at the hospital during labor. Through the years, the two have seen each other through ups and downs, specifically Rosa's father's abandonment and the slow death of Ginger's parents' marriage. Now, teenage Ginger is increasingly anxious about the bomb falling on London -- it is the early 1960s, after all -- and channels her anxiety into her poetry; Rosa believes in God, making out (with both boys and Ginger), magazines, parties, and having fun. She's also drawn to Ginger's bohemian father, Roland (Alessandro Nivola), who doesn't believe in "shoulds" and "musts" -- or anything that ties him down, for that matter. As her parents' relationship falters, Ginger's discontent and anxiety increase until she finds she can no longer bear it anymore with a smile and shrug.
Is It Any Good?
GINGER & ROSA might as well be called Ginger; she's heartbroken and heartbreaking, and we're with her, not Rosa, on this tempestuous journey. The title makes it sound as if the film is about two girls -- which it is, but only just. Halfway through, the ground shifts, and all at once, Ginger is front and center -- not that this is a tragedy, considering how well Fanning holds the audience's attention. She's pretty much perfect here, English accent included, inhabiting Ginger's restless and searching 17-year-old so fully.
And the movie does do a fine job portraying the alienation that wedges between her and Rosa (Englert holds her own). Why? The dramatic twist -- we won't spoil it -- isn't all that surprising, since the filmmakers leave an (annoyingly) obvious breadcrumb trail. But we don't fully understand -- some allusions to her father's abandonment notwithstanding -- why Rosa does what she does, inevitably wreaking havoc.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Ginger and Rosa's friendship: Is it healthy? Equal? Supportive? How does it compare to other movie friendships you've seen?
Are Ginger's parents supportive and nurturing? Is she better off with them in her life or not? Do they seem like realistic characters?
Talk to your kids about the '60s and what it may have been like growing up under constant fear of the bomb. How does that shape what the characters do and how they behave?
Movie Details
- In theaters: March 15, 2013
- On DVD or streaming: July 23, 2013
- Cast: Alice Englert , Annette Bening , Christina Hendricks , Elle Fanning
- Director: Sally Potter
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: A24
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Friendship
- Run time: 90 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: mature disturbing thematic material involving teen choices - sexuality, drinking, smoking, and for language
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
Inclusion information powered by
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 suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Drama Movies That Tug at the Heartstrings
Indie Films
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