Parents' Guide to

Speak

By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

High school rape, teen drinking in intense movie.

Movie PG-13 2004 93 minutes
Speak Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

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oikjhgdvdvr Adult
November 21, 2022
age 18+
It was very good movie.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

At the start of SPEAK, shy, bright freshman Melinda (Kristen Stewart) is thrilled to have the attention of handsome high school senior Andy (Eric Lively) at a party. They drink alcohol and she willingly dances with him. She also kisses him, but when he forces himself on her, she yells, "No" and cries through the rape. Although she calls the police, she is too traumatized to stay and report it when they arrive. The police break up the party and arrest some teens. Melinda tells no one of the rape. She becomes increasingly depressed and isolated as former friends taunt her and cut her off for ruining the party. In her loneliness, she wonders how long it would take for anyone to notice if she stopped talking. She never goes completely mute, but her relative reticence serves to create a sense in her of invisibility, uselessness, and self-loathing. A free-spirited art teacher, aptly named Mr. Freeman (Steve Zahn), manages to help her realize her self-worth and ultimately she finds her voice.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (6):

This is a startlingly good film on what has become a familiar subject in both fiction and life -- the story of rape and its lasting effect on victims. Kristen Stewart's singular poise and self-possession (four years before she achieved infamy as Bella in the Twilight series) as the traumatized Melinda help the audience begin to understand how a victim might feel that her free will has been erased by rape. The attack destabilizes the security of her world -- no wonder she might feel reporting the attack would be useless and even self-defeating. Director Jessica Sharzer deftly organizes the story around several moving epiphanies that at first seem extraneous to the issue of rape but brilliantly expose the connections so many moments of emotional breakthrough have with reaching sufficient maturity and strength to stand up for oneself. The movie recaptures the powerlessness kids can feel in school, well illustrated when at the last minute a cruel teacher forces a shy girl to orally present her extra credit assignment rather than simply hand it in to him. Speak nicely makes the argument that slashed arts curricula in schools also can have lasting negative effects on students deprived of increasingly rare opportunities for self-expression.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why someone like Melinda in Speak might not want to report a rape.

  • Do you think some victims mistakenly feel responsible for the bad actions of their attackers? Do you think some victims are afraid people won't believe them?

  • What would you advise a friend who was reluctant to report a sexual assault?

  • What should you do if you are ever sexually assaulted?

Movie Details

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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.

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