Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this film includes explicit, traumatic violence, especially by gunfire and especially involving young children. In one incident, a boy shoots a rifle at a tourists' bus from far away, accidentally hitting a young mother; she bleeds and becomes increasingly weak through the rest of the film. In another, authorities shoot at a father and his two young sons (one shoots back at them, and the other is shot dead, all shown in bloody, sad imagery). When a nanny is lost in the desert with two young children, the kids become badly dehydrated and very sick. To shock some boys, a high school student shows off what's under her school uniform skirt. She also discusses her mother's suicide and considers it for herself; at one point she stands on a high rise balcony, frightening her father. The same girl later appears naked before a policeman (there are two shots of frontal nudity). A boy masturbates. Characters drink, smoke, do drugs, and use profanity, especially "f--k."
Sexual
Content
A high-school student opens her legs to reveal underwearless crotch (revealing a dark area, very briefly); the same girl shows her naked body to a policeman in effort to "communicate" her sadness and loneliness (she has two shots of full-frontal nudity); girl licks her dentist (he sends her home); a boy watches his sister undress through a peephole, upsetting their father when he finds out; a boy masturbates; young people kiss/dance.
Violence
Violence involving children: A Moroccan boy accidentally shoots an American tourist (badly injured, she bleeds and weakens throughout the film and endures stitching without anesthesia); a boy is shot by authorities (bloody body); a boy and authorities exchange gunfire (boy enthusiastic, then horrified); discussion of a mother's suicide and her daughter's consideration of same; authorities threaten a Moroccan man with a gun to the head, then beat him (bloodied face); at a Mexican wedding, revellers shoot guns, scaring Caucasian/U.S.-born children.
Language
Repeated (15+) uses of "f--k" (at least one in Japanese with subtitle); some other profanity ("s--t," "a--hole," "ass").
Social
Behavior
Bad decisions throughout: A high-school girl rebels (parties, does drugs, reveals her body); a young boy shoots rifle on a lark; U.S. tourists travel in a country where they're at once privileged and fearful (racist); a nanny travels with her young charges to Mexico, then has trouble crossing the border back into California; her nephew tries to race away from border guards. Some of these characters recover, others don't.
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Cigarette smoking, drinking (some underage, and one character drives drunk), and drugs (high school students).
