My high schoolers (juniors and seniors)are looking at modern adaptations of Shakespearean plays. Does this contain anything (graphic sex scenes, major bad language or violence) that would make it innapropriate for a school setting? I'm trying to get it from Netflix, but I need to send out permission slips to their parents if there's objectionable content. Basically, if it would be rated R, we're going to have problems. Thanks.
shareI haven't seen this in a couple of years but I don't remember anything that a high school student shouldn't be able to see. You do see Othello and Dessie in bed together but there's no nudity. Chris Eccleston's Iago does get naked but it's only a side view as he's perched on the bathtub. (In fact the Iago and Lulu scenes have most of the crude language but I wouldn't classify it as "major bad", it's simply crude.)
As for the violence, the flashbacks of the policemen beating up a man are quick but graphic. Othello suffocating Dessie is difficult to watch not because it's excessively graphic, it's just well acted.
My kids watched it in 9th grade and I think I squirmed once or twice. Mild squirm.
In modernizing the play, Iago tries to incriminate Dessie by checking on a DNA sample of bodily secretions on a bathrobe.
All in all a swell production, one of the best modern day versions of any Shakespeare I've seen. (The newer BBC ShakespeaRe-Told are also out..Macbeth was excellent, Midsummer was good and the other 2 just ok. Taming of the Shrew's enjoyability depends on if you can handle Shirley Henderson's voice. They also tamed her too much for me.)
Hope it helps.
In yr. 11 my English class used it, there were some sex scenes, but nothing inappropriate was shown.
shareOkay, after watching this, I decided not to show it to the students. A lot of them are Mormon, and I think some parents would likely have a fit. Plus, I have several very immature boys, and I predict there would be a lot of snickering. Thanks for the help, anyway.
shareSo even if most of the kids could see it and probably get something out of it, you won't show it because some immature kids might snicker? I understand if all the parents are Mormon and would object to their children seeing anything that reflects the world we live in, but couldn't you simply send a note home and if they don't want their teenage children to see the play, they can opt out?
This aired on ITV-commercial television in the U.K. 4 years ago and on PBS uncut in the states soon after. No one complained.
Over a third of our school is Mormon, and I've been told by a few parents in the past that any profanity or sexual content is unacceptable. I've had PG movies rejected on this basis. The librarians get a bit crabby when they have to babysit my kids who aren't allowed to watch particular movies, and I'm guessing I'd have at least six or seven in this bunch who have parents who would object. I don't think the language would be a problem, but the sexual content would. I'm trying to pick my battles with the parents, and I'm going to push for them to allow me to show the Ethan Hawke version of Hamlet, since they tend to be more lax with violence.
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