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Parents' Guide to

The Hours

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Smart, thoughtful movie for older teens and up.

Movie PG-13 2003 111 minutes
The Hours Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 15+

Based on 2 parent reviews

doctora
doctora Parent of 5-year-old
May 29, 2022
age 15+

3 Actors at the top of their craft

Centering mental stress, suicide, and women's lives made all that more believable by three incredible performances. Kidman is almost unrecognizable except as Virginia Woolf. Streep is all-in awesome, but it is Moore that I think knocks it out of the park. Portraying a pristine China doll that is about to break into a million pieces and how she navigates life with the weight of patriarchy bearing down on her from all sides. A well directed and even better edited film that brings three eras into seamless conversation.
yuri13
yuri13 Adult
March 30, 2015
age 14+

A little disturbing, but exceptional film

This film is a masterpiece about life, death and unhappiness. There are three lesbians kissing and references to suicide but offers a good reflection on life.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In this story of three women of different eras whose lives connect and parallel each other, we see each of them struggle between despair and meaning. Author Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman) has moved to the country to cure her depression. She is looking forward to a visit from her sister (Miranda Richardson), longing to return to London, and writing a book called Mrs. Dalloway about one day in the life of a woman who is giving a party. Laura Brown (Julianne Moore) is a post-WWII suburban mother pregnant with her second child. It is her husband's birthday and she is trying to make a cake for his celebration. Clarissa Vaughn (Meryl Streep) is a present-day editor who is preparing a party for Richard (Ed Harris). He is a poet and novelist who is receiving a prestigious award. But he is very sick with AIDS and may not make it to the ceremony or the party. Richard's nickname for Clarissa is "Mrs. Dalloway" because she shares her first name with the title character. Like Mrs. Dalloway, all three women get flowers. And, like her, all three share an emotional kiss with another woman. And all three try to find something to hold on to so that they can feel that their lives are worthwhile.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (1 ):

THE HOURS is a smart, thoughtful movie. It's beautifully directed by Steven Daldry and beautifully performed by Streep, Kidman, Moore, and supporting actors Harris, Claire Danes, and Toni Collette. Some audiences may find it pretentious, disturbing, or boring, but others will appreciate its subtlety and willingness to grapple with existential questions.

The Pulitzer-prize winning novel by Michael Cunningham is, according to the author, a tribute to Woolf's view that "there are no ordinary lives, just inadequate ways of looking at them." He says, too, that Woolf "spent her career writing the extraordinary, epic tales of people who seem to be doing nothing unusual at all. If most great writers scan the heavens like astrophysicists, Woolf looked penetratingly at the very small, like a microbiologist. Through her books, we understand that the workings of atomic particles are every bit as mysterious as the workings of galaxies - it all depends on whether you look out or look in."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what this means, and how most of us are defined and define ourselves not by huge heroic adventures but by small connections and kindnesses. What did Virginia, Laura, and Clarissa find to give value and meaning to their lives? They have people to love and people who love them - what are they missing, and why? What is the significance of those three kisses, none of which seems to give the characters the comfort and intimacy they are seeking? Why does Cunningham give us three stories touched by the fictional character created by Woolf? Does he think that any of his characters are successful? How can you tell? What book could inspire you as Cunningham was inspired by Woolf?

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