Together
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Together
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Together is an intense but excellent British drama set during the COVID-19 pandemic with some distressing scenes and strong language throughout. Centered solely on a warring middle-aged couple -- referred to only as He (James McAvoy) and She (Sharon Horgan) -- who are forced together during lockdown, its tone and content is clearly aimed at adult audiences. But mature teens may well find it relatable and enlightening, as well as a powerful exploration of the pandemic and its fallout. The film is a mix of monologues and the two characters talking to each other, with both also breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to the audience. The experience of losing a loved one to COVID-19 is expressed with an emotional intensity that could provoke sadness, shock, and fear. Language includes frequent use of "f--k" and "s--t" along with insults and verbal attacks throughout. Despite heavy-going subject matter, there are plenty of lighter moments and the final takeaway is filled with cautious optimism.
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What's the Story?
An unhappy couple are forced to re-evaluate their relationship in TOGETHER, as the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps across the U.K. and the country begins its first national lockdown. Anger, fear, and frustration abound as She (Sharon Horgan) and He (James McAvoy) navigate their new circumstances -- working from home, home schooling their son, and agonizing over how best to care for her elderly mother. Tensions run high, but there are also glimmers of hope for a happier future.
Is It Any Good?
The portrait of a seemingly doomed relationship under the shadow of COVID-19, this British drama tackles heavy-going themes with eloquence and empathy. Capturing the fear and confusion, and the daily adjustments we all had to make, Together squeezes out every significant moment of the pandemic into one expertly acted performance. And all while exploring the dynamic between a discontented couple forced together during lockdown.
Filmed in just 10 days, it has the feel of a stage play. Right from the off, the actors break the fourth wall, talking directly to the camera. This technique can sometimes seem awkward or unnatural, but not here. You almost immediately feel like a third person in the room with them, their friend, someone they're confiding in -- which makes the drama all the more intense. The spiteful arguments are punctuated by moments of tenderness, unity, even humor, and while the characters are certainly flawed they are also relatable. Amid the stark, at times devastating, realities of the effects of the pandemic, this is ultimately a story about the power of love, and about understanding that sometimes coming together is the only way to survive.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way Together portrayed life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Did you find it relatable? Did it touch on any of your own experiences?
Discuss the strong language used. Was it a necessary part of the drama, giving more impact to the dialogue? Did it make the characters more, or perhaps less, realistic to you?
What do you think about the format of the film, with the actors giving monologues and "breaking the fourth wall" as they talked directly to the camera? Would the story have been told as effectively without these dramatic techniques? Have you seen these filming techniques used before?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 27, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: September 14, 2021
- Cast: Sharon Horgan, James McAvoy
- Director: Stephen Daldry
- Studio: Bleecker Street Media
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 91 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language throughout
- Last updated: July 27, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Marriage Story
All-too-real divorce drama isn't kid stuff; strong language.
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Kramer vs. Kramer
Sensitive, truthful look at the breakup of a family.
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Catastrophe
Raunchy, hilarious British romcom about relationships.
For kids who love drama
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