Common Sense Media Review
By Alistair Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark, comic morality tale has language, drugs, adult themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Forgiven
What's the Story?
THE FORGIVEN follows wealthy expat, David Henninger (Ralph Fiennes), who is asked to atone for the accidental killing of a local Moroccan boy.
Is It Any Good?
A meandering, two-hour tale of privileged expats in the Moroccan desert may not be to everyone's taste. But thankfully The Forgiven's unflinching look at the lives of superficial rich people has some hidden depths. The movie's excellent cast is led by Fiennes, whose miserable alcoholic Richard struggles to make up his mind about how he wants to face the aftermath of accidentally killing a young Moroccan boy who intended to rob him. His peers seem largely indifferent to his plight, with their dialogue more idle chit-chat than thoughts and advice on how he should deal with the boy's grieving family.
Screenwriter and director John Michael McDonagh adapted the movie from a novel by Lawrence Osborne. But McDonagh makes these characters his own, bringing them in line with the other self-centered bigots and rogues who feature in some of his other movies such as The Guard and Calvary. Like those films, The Forgiven also has the right amount of grim humor to make its players bearable -- and there's something like redemption at the end, albeit in the form of a twisted sting in the tale.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different characters in The Forgiven. Did you like them? Why, or why not? Did you have any sympathy with them?
Discuss the strong language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Talk about the characters' racist attitudes and discussions about colonialism. How did this show the biases of different perspectives?
How were drinking, smoking, and drug use portrayed? Were there consequences? Did it glamorize it?
Talk about the lavish lifestyles of the expat characters. Did they appear to enjoy it or feel trapped by it?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 1, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : July 15, 2022
- Cast : Ralph Fiennes , Jessica Chastain , Matt Smith
- Director : John Michael McDonagh
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Roadside Attractions
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters
- Run time : 117 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language throughout, drug use, some sexual content and brief violence
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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