Rushmore

It's important to apologize and to forgive. Artists should be given leeway for their personality flaws. Friendships can survive betrayal and other conflicts if people care enough. People who are not meant to be together romantically can sometimes still be friends.

Max's mother died of cancer when he was young, and Rosemary's young husband drowned, both before the action begins. Herman deliberately drives his car over Max's bike. Max tampers with the brakes on his friend's car, causing an accident with no injuries. Max shoots the ear of an enemy with a BB rifle, then asks him to be in a play. The description of someone getting his finger blown off during a play rehearsal is mentioned. Fake blood and fake death abound in a play depicting violent combat in Vietnam. A parent hits his teenage son sitting behind him in the back of a car. Max is punched and walks around with bloody gauze in his nostrils. Young boys throw rocks at Max in retaliation for his betrayal. The headmaster has a stroke. He is seen in the hospital recovering. Max tries to forcibly kiss Rosemary. She pushes him away, and he falls.

"F--k," "s--t," "ass," and "hell."

Adults and a 15-year-old drink alcohol. Max and adults smoke cigarettes.