Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that A Little Game is an earnest coming-of-age tale of Max, a 10-year-old girl dealing with change, sadness, and life lessons. The film uses chess to help Max come to terms with the issues she's facing, but the actual chess-playing time is minimal, and the story requires no previous knowledge of the game. The filmmakers attempt to use chess, the chessboard, and its pieces as metaphors for life. During the course of the movie, Max's beloved grandmother dies, but the scenes surrounding Max's loss are short and do not dwell on grief. What does emerge from the event are Max's reflections on the fragility and ephemeral nature of life as she's supported by a loving parent. There are a few insults ("crappy," "hell," "kick your butt," "diarrhea," "turd"). Affluent kids and their families are mostly portrayed as negative stereotypes; there is brief mean-girl bullying.
Sexual
Content
Not applicable
Violence
Max's beloved grandmother dies, but the scenes surrounding Max's loss are short and do not dwell on grief. Brief mean-girl bullying.
Language
Occasional coarse language: "crappy," "hell," "kick your butt," "diarrhea," "turd" (appears as subtitle).
Social
Behavior
Many messages delivered clearly in dialogue: "Don't worry about the next game. Enjoy this one." "Make a choice and go on." "Don't let life happen to you. You happen to life." "If you make a mistake, admit it." "Think creatively. Be inspired." "Change isn't a bad thing. Often something has to close before something else can open." Throughout, the game of chess is used as a metaphor for life; the chess board is a metaphor for the city.
Consumerism
Quiksilver, Corrado Bread and Pastry (NYC).
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
A mom and dad share a bottled beer.
