Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that, as Mildred Pierce, star Kate Winslet gives a stunning lead performance, whether she's in or out of her clothes -- and she's frequently out of them. Graphic, grinding sex, plus groping and insinuations of sex, are only a few of the reasons why this HBO miniseries is best for mature teens and adults. Perhaps even more problematic for younger viewers are the shocking death of Pierce's younger daughter and her older daughter's frequently awful behavior toward her mother.

Sexual Content

Groping, full nudity, and insinuation of sexual acts, as well as graphic sex. Buttocks, breasts, and frontal female nudity are shown.

Violence

Mildred slaps her daughter, Veda, two times; Veda slaps her mother. Mildred spanks her daughter. When Veda is an adult, Mildred chokes her. A child dies onscreen.

Language

Swearing includes "bastard," as well as very occasional uses of "damn" and "hell."

Social Behavior

Family, and the choices we make to accommodate them, emerge as the core themes of this film. Mildred is a loving mother, but her love for her daughter, Veda, also allows her to overlook some of Veda's worst traits, which comes back to haunt Mildred later in life. Hard work is celebrated through much of the film, though ultimately Mildred loses much that she's struggled to achieve.

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Frequent cigarette smoking; children are given glasses of water with bits of scotch in them. Children pretend that they're drunk. A 14-year-old girl smokes in front of her mother.