Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that most teens will have trouble at first following Shakespeare's untouched and dense prose. Given that the anti-Semitism of the time is given explicit treatment with Christian characters spitting on, cursing, threatening, and "damning" Jewish citizens forced to live in a ghetto, parents should be aware that sensitive viewers of any age may be upset and that this plus other mature themes render it unsuitable for younger viewers. A character's life is threatened, a young woman runs away with a man against her father's wishes, a man's anger becomes madness, a young woman refers to being orphaned, characters manipulate and lie to one another, and otherwise "good" people show grave intolerance to others based upon their religion or nationality. There is social drinking. Bare-breasted prostitutes beckon to passing men, and one scene has two characters doing business in a brothel.

Sexual Content

Topless women as a symbol of prostitution or debauchery, implied sexuality.

Violence

Peril, a character's life is endangered.

Language

Some. Shakespeare's insults are impeccably phrased but they are derisive name-calling nonetheless.

Social Behavior

Anti-Semitism is a major theme in this movie with characters being mistreated and abused with no consequences to those who commit the crimes.

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Social drinking.