Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this award-winning movie featuring a real-life Mongolian family includes a couple of suspenseful, perilous scenes when a child is lost or left alone. Viewers also see animal carcasses, vultures feeding, a sheep being skinned, and kids playing with dung. Be prepared to confront gender assumptions -- the little boy looks like a girl with his hair in pigtails and it comes as a big surprise when his sex is revealed by a brief non-sexual nude shot. Overall, the movie is a unique peek into an unfamiliar culture that could expand kids' understanding of the world.

Sexual Content

Non-sexual nudity of a child. The youngest child's bare butt is shown. There's a brief frontal nudity shot, which is when the audience may realize he's in fact a boy, not a girl (he wears pigtails).

Violence

The realities of rural life are shown: close-up of a dead sheep, skinning sheep, vultures feeding on a carcass in distance. Brief scene of siblings arguing. Talk about vultures and wolves being dangerous. Children get lost/left a few times. The scariest moment is when the family realizes a young boy has been left behind. As the dad races back to get him, the boy wanders near vultures and water.

Language

Not applicable

Social Behavior

This film exposes kids to a lifestyle very different from their own and is a great way to expand their understanding of the world. It also teaches that families have universal struggles and joys regardless of their life circumstances. Themes of tradition vs. modern life emerge.

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Not applicable