Boys In The Boat: Is It Kid-Friendly?

The Boys in the Boat is a 2023 sports drama directed by George Clooney, based on the 2013 non-fiction book of the same name by Daniel James Brown. The film is about the University of Washington's rowing team, who competed for gold at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. With a PG-13 rating for language, smoking, and adult themes, the film may not be suitable for children under 13 years old. While the story is inspiring and highlights important themes of teamwork and perseverance, parents should be aware of some mature content, including mild sexual content, difficult conversations about family and abandonment, and profanity.

Sexual content

"The Boys in the Boat" is a sports drama film directed by George Clooney and based on the #1 New York Times bestselling non-fiction novel written by Daniel James Brown. While the movie does not contain any nudity, it does include some mild sexual content and romantic scenes.

Joyce and Joe, one of the main characters, are shown to have a romantic relationship. They are seen kissing passionately a few times, including a long, lingering kiss before Joe boards a train. Joyce sneaks Joe into her dorm room, which is against the rules, and she changes her clothes in front of him, although she asks him to look away while she does so. When they are almost caught, she makes him leave through the window. They also spend time lying on a bed together, but the scene is relatively chaste, with Joyce resting her head on Joe's chest while still fully clothed.

There is also a scene where a wife suggestively invites her husband to join her in bed, and another scene where a woman makes a suggestive comment about showing her partner "how she did it" after a big win.

The film also includes some mild sensual innuendos and references to male and female anatomy. For example, one of the characters refers to male anatomy as "nuts," and there is a joke about a man's "phallic" boat.

In addition, there is a scene where Joyce teases Joe about a crush he had on her in the fourth grade, and she has kept the construction-paper love note that he wrote to her.

Overall, while there is some sexual content in the movie, it is relatively mild and mostly implied rather than explicit. However, parents may want to use these scenes as opportunities to discuss healthy sexuality with their teens.

Profanity

The Boys in the Boat is rated PG-13 for "language and smoking". The film contains infrequent use of profanities, including "aholes", "a", "bullsh*t", "sh*t", "g0ddamn", "pr*cks", "hell", "Jesus", "H-E-double-hockey-sticks", "screw you", "shut up", "phallic", "my nuts", "oh my god", and "oh Christ". The language is described as moderate overall, with one parent reviewer stating that they were "surprised" by the language, having watched "nearly a third of the movie before dishing out the first profanity".

The film also contains some sexual content, including kissing, flirting, and a love story. While there is no nudity, there is a scene of a girl changing in a bra, and a boy is seen sneaking out of a girl's bedroom window. There is also a reference to a man's private area as "nuts".

Violence/Suspense

The Boys in the Boat is a sports drama film set in the 1930s, specifically in Berlin, Germany, during the Nazi regime. As such, parents should expect to see Nazi symbols, salutes, military presence, and sightings of Adolf Hitler. While the violence is minimal, with only one scene of shoving/fight initiation, there are some mild visible wounds, such as hand blisters, to represent the physical challenges of rowing. There is also a vomiting noise in one scene and a sick person holding a toilet in another.

The film does an excellent job of highlighting the good, the bad, and the beauty of the 1930s through its visuals, costuming, and camera movements. It captures the fashion, technological advances, and the overall atmosphere of the decade.

In terms of adult themes and mature content, the film includes smoking and underage alcohol consumption in multiple scenes. There are also references to mental health issues, loss, grief, estranged family relationships, and mild childhood trauma, which may be triggering for some viewers.

Adult themes

The Boys in the Boat is a sports drama film directed by George Clooney, based on the 1936 University of Washington rowing team that competed for gold at the Summer Olympics in Berlin. While the film is based on a true story, it does take some liberties with the plot. The film is rated PG-13 for "language and smoking", which means some content may not be suitable for kids under 13.

The film contains some adult themes, including:

• Smoking and alcohol consumption: There are multiple scenes throughout the film where characters are seen smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol, including underage alcohol consumption.
• Love and romance: The film depicts some romantic relationships and sexual innuendos. There are scenes of kissing, flirting, and a love story. A boy is seen sneaking out of a girl's bedroom window, and a married couple is seen lying in bed together, fully clothed.
• Mental health and family issues: The film touches on themes of mental health, loss, grief, abandonment, and estranged family relationships. These themes may be triggering for some viewers.
• Violence: There is one scene of shoving/fight initiation and some mild visible wounds, such as hand blisters, depicting the physical challenges of rowing.
• Historical context: The film is set in the 1930s and reflects the social and economic issues of the time, including the Great Depression and the rise of Nazi Germany. There are visible Nazi symbols, salutes, military presence, and Adolf Hitler sightings, which may be disturbing for some viewers.

Historical context

The Boys in the Boat is set in the 1930s, during the Great Depression. The story follows the University of Washington's rowing team as they compete for gold at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, at the height of the Great Depression. The film reflects the historical context of the time through its costuming, camera movements, fashion, and technological advances.

The 1930s was a period of economic hardship and social unrest, with the Great Depression causing poverty and unemployment across the United States. The film depicts the struggles of working-class student-athletes, who faced obstacles such as poverty, abandonment, and lack of parental support. The University of Washington's rowing team, composed mostly of working-class athletes, went up against rival teams from elite Ivy League schools and the East Coast. The film also touches on the issue of racism, with the presence of Nazi symbols and references to Nazi Germany at the Olympics.

The 1936 Olympics in Berlin was a significant event, as it was held in Nazi-controlled Germany. The US Olympic team competed against the Germans, with the film alluding to the broader political and social tensions of the time. The inclusion of athlete Jesse Owens and his conversation with a rower about winning gold to teach a lesson to the folks back home highlights the issue of racism both in Germany and the United States.

The Boys in the Boat captures the spirit of perseverance and teamwork during a challenging historical period. It showcases the determination of young athletes who, despite their humble backgrounds, rose to the occasion and represented their country on a global stage. The film also highlights the importance of unity and collaboration, with the rowing team learning to work together and trust one another.

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