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Parents' Guide to

The Furnace

By Alistair Lawrence, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Diverse Australian Western has violence, racism, language.

Movie NR 2021 116 minutes
The Furnace Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • The Furnace Movie: Scene #1
  • The Furnace Movie: Scene #2
  • The Furnace Movie: Scene #3

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What's the Story?

THE FURNACE follows Mal (David Wenham), an Australian outlaw, and Hanif (Ahmed Malek), an Afghan cameleer, as they journey together with stolen gold across the 19th-century outback.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This Australian Western -- or, as they're known colloquially, a "meat pie Western" -- brings to light a period of late 19th-century Australia rarely shown on the big screen. The Furnace focuses on a time when the British imported camels from India and the Middle East, and in the process, coerced handlers into unpaid labor. The movie's diverse cast of characters -- including Sikhs, Afghans, and Persians -- are its main strength, as it gives writer-director Roderick MacKay opportunity to examine Australia's colonial past. The different groups alternate between co-operating and fighting among themselves, giving many scenes a heat that burns hotter than the outback's sun-scorched weather.

Unfortunately, the story The Furnace tells isn't as compelling as its cast. In contrast to its assured performances, there's just not enough plot to sustain an almost two-hour runtime, while too many characters meet predictable ends. Nonetheless, this is still a bold, interesting movie that has the potential to encourage filmmakers and audiences to think differently about a genre that is often guilty of neglecting the past.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in The Furnace. Was it necessary to tell the story? Was any of it gratuitous? Does exposure to violent movies make kids more aggressive?

  • Discuss the racism in the movie. How much do you know about Australia's colonial past? What did this movie teach you? Did you think this was an accurate portrayal of the time period? How to talk with kids about racism and racial violence.

  • Talk about the diversity among the cast. How did this movie compare to other Westerns in terms of the characters it focused on? Did you notice any stereotypes? Why is diverse representation important in movies?

  • Discuss the relationship between Mal and Hanif. What compromises did they make to partner together and how did their journey change them?

  • There is a distinct lack of women in the movie. Why do you think this was? How could this story have been more inclusive when it came to its women characters?

Movie Details

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 suggesting a diversity update.

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