What we flagged
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Our take
Inglourious Basterds is an adult war film that stretches tense conversations to the breaking point, then turns suddenly violent. There are shootings, a man beaten to death, scalpings, and people trapped in a burning cinema. Some of the gore is graphic. Strong swearing, smoking, and drinking run through the film. We would keep this for viewers around 16 and up who can handle its cruelty and sustained tension.
Uplifting themes
There is courage and loyalty among the squad and in a woman's lone stand, but it all serves a bloody revenge fantasy with little moral comfort to take away The characters are clever and committed, yet they are killers and schemers, so there are no clean role models to point to here The setting is World War Two, but the plot is pure invention. Treat the history as flavour, not a lesson. The film is here for the story, not the classroom
Story (may spoil tone)
In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as "The Basterds" are chosen specifically to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. The Basterds, lead by Lt. Aldo Raine soon cross paths with a French-Jewish teenage girl who runs a movie theater in Paris which is targeted by the soldiers.
Details
Violence Violence is strong and often cruel, with point-blank shootings, a man b…
Violence is strong and often cruel, with point-blank shootings, a man beaten to death with a bat, scalpings, and a crowd trapped in a burning cinema. Long, calm scenes snap into sudden killing, and the body count runs high
Language The f-word is frequent, alongside the s-word, religious exclamations, a…
The f-word is frequent, alongside the s-word, religious exclamations, and b-word insults. A homophobic slur is also used during a heated exchange
Drugs / alcohol Characters smoke pipes and cigarettes and drink whiskey and wine steadi…
Characters smoke pipes and cigarettes and drink whiskey and wine steadily as period texture, and one tense scene hinges on a round of drinks. It is social, adult, and never the point
Frightening The farmhouse interrogation, tavern standoff, and burning cinema build…
The farmhouse interrogation, tavern standoff, and burning cinema build long stretches of dread. The suspense is drawn out and aimed at adults
Bullying / discrimination Nazi antisemitism drives the whole story, from the hunt for hidden Jewi…
Nazi antisemitism drives the whole story, from the hunt for hidden Jewish families to casual, hateful talk about an entire people. The persecution colours every scene it touches
Gore / death / weapons Injury detail is vivid when it comes: deep gunshot wounds, a swastika c…
Injury detail is vivid when it comes: deep gunshot wounds, a swastika cut into a forehead, and bloody corpses. Firearms, knives, and explosives are all in play, and dialogue even references a dismembered body
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
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Talk after watching
- The film turns real history into a revenge fantasy. How do you tell teens where the facts stop and the invention starts?
- Violence here is sudden and sometimes cheered. Why does it matter to talk about on-screen killing being treated as entertainment?
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Inglourious Basterds
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