Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this period literary adaptation isn't for kids: It moves slowly, deals with mature themes, and has lots of sex scenes and partial nudity. The sex isn't especially explicit (there's some motion and occasional thrusting, with breasts, nipples, and bottoms visible), but it's frequent and plays into the main character's yearning for his one true love. Characters discuss religion, marriage, and adultery; brief violence includes a cut throat (with blood) and a physically abusive father. Some language (one use of "f--k," plus other choice terms).
Sexual
Content
Multiple sex scenes show bodies in profile and in assorted positions/locations (motion is explicit, and naked breasts/nipples and bottoms are shown). More partial-nudity post-sex moments, as well as visible breasts in scenes set on a balcony and in a brothel. Lots of cleavage in general. Florentino is invited to the whorehouse to ease his obsession with Fermina. Discussion of whores is alternately joking and pejorative. Conversation about a man's "thing," (Fermina wonders how it works, and her husband offers a "lesson in love," getting on top of her in bed before the scene fades out). Rumor about a man picking up boys on the dock. Husband's affair hurts his wife. Slang for sex act includes "screw" and "f--k."
Violence
First scene shows elderly Juvenal falling off a ladder and dying in his back yard. Fermina's father wields a gun and a whip to threaten others. A brief scene shows men boxing in the street for public entertainment. When a throat is cut, the victim gurgles and dies.
Language
Profanity includes one use of "f--k" (as a verb), plus "s--t," "damn," and "screw."
Social
Behavior
Even though he's devoted to Fermina and faithful to her in his heart, Florentino sleeps with lots of other women. Some discussions of religion suggest distinctions between daily life and spiritual faith. Cholera and love are deemed causes for fevers and bad decisions.
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Repeated cigar and cigarette smoking, as well as drinking (liquor and wine) -- both in frustration and in celebration.
