Common Sense Media Review
By Danny Brogan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
British coming-of-age drama has strong language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Pond Life
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
POND LIFE follows the lives of a young group of friends living in an under-resourced small town in northern England. Each of the friends have their own issues to deal with, so when a rumor starts about a giant fish in a nearby pond, hatching a plan to try and catch it becomes the perfect distraction.
Is It Any Good?
Adapted from a stage play, this British coming-of-age drama follows in the footsteps of the likes of Ken Loach and Mike Leigh in its depiction of "ordinary" people going about "ordinary" lives. Set in the summer of 1994 in a rundown town in northern England, there's nothing showy about director Bill Buckhurst's Pond Life. In fact quite the opposite. Sofas and broken televisions litter the housing estates where its central characters -- a group of tween and teens who are all dealing with their own issues -- all live. The result is that it feels as though you're getting a direct and uncensored look into these people's lives.
This is not only down to the way the film is shot, but also thanks to its young cast, whose performances are all realistic and believable. Special mention must go to Esme Creed-Miles (daughter of Samantha Morton and Charlie Creed-Miles), whose depiction of the kind, but troubled, Pogo is the standout. However, the movie's underplayed style may ultimately fail to capture a mainstream audience. Not much happens throughout the film's 100-minute runtime. There's no big action sequence and the nearest thing that comes to a twist or big reveal, while still attention grabbing, is done without fanfare. The '90s references may be lost on anyone born this side of the millennium, too. But for those who are already fans of films by Loach and Leigh, Pond Life is well worth seeking out.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the language used in Pond Life. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Which characters showed teamwork and compassion? Why are those important character strengths to have? Can you think of a time when you've shown these traits in your own life?
Discuss the smoking in the film. Do you think attitudes today have changed toward smoking compared to 1990s when this film was set? If so, why do you think that is?
Did this film remind you of any others you may have seen?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 14, 2021
- Cast : Tom Varey , Esme Creed-Miles , Angus Imrie
- Director : Bill Buckhurst
- Studio : Indican Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Teamwork
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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