I'm Not Here

A man who has suicidal ideation repeatedly holds a gun to his head. A child hears a gunshot, finds body of a man who died by suicide (feet, gun are seen). Implication of small child being struck by car. Characters who are upset speak sharply to one another.

Rise and subsequent disintegration of a marriage is depicted, starting with the couple having passionate sex the same night they meet. Other sexual acts are implied; a child finds photos of his dad in a clothed, standing embrace with someone. An older, sickly man's backside is flashed twice in a nonsexual context.

"Oh my God."

Hereditary nature of alcoholism is a major theme. Bottles of vodka are everywhere, and beer, cocktails, straight liquor are consumed frequently -- including by two children. A child makes his father a drink, then drinks it himself. A comedian makes a joke about being high on "weed."

Parents need to know that I'm Not Here is an intense, heavy sci-fi drama that explores the thought experiment known as Schrödinger's Cat -- i.e., the theory that an outcome isn't real until it's observed. The story is full of tragedy hinging on the intended suicide of a depressed alcoholic (J.K. Simmons). While no actual violence is shown, viewers see a man hold a gun to his head, a child finds a body (feet shown), and several deaths occur off-camera. The demise of two marriages is chronicled, and there's quite a bit of sex. The movie can be seen as a powerful warning about the legacy of alcoholism and the habits that kids pick up from watching their parents. But ultimately, what you see in the film depends on your own point of view -- i.e., what you observe. It's meant to spark conversation and debate, so while it's not for kids, make sure you watch it with someone else so you can talk about it afterward.

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