Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that the thought-provoking The Normal Heart candidly explores the early years of the HIV/AIDS crisis with jarring scenes involving illness and death, unbleeped language (including "f--k"), and simulated sex (including full-frontal nudity and sex with multiple partners). There's also some social drinking along with depictions of recreational drug use, but those elements aren't the focus.

Sexual Content

Sex is simulated but highly realistic, with bare buttocks and occasional frontal nudity. One scene includes a public sex act involving multiple partners, and another takes place in a bathhouse.

Violence

Characters undergo shocking physical changes over the course of their illnesses, and death is a common theme. There's some blood as well as other visible bodily fluids, but it's realistic rather than excessive.

Language

Unbleeped strong language includes words such as "f--k," "s--t," and "c--k."

Social Behavior

The overall tone is far from rosy, but the piece explores thought-provoking themes such as sex versus love, promiscuity versus monogamy, bravery, honesty, and discrimination -- and characters talking openly about these issues helps drive messages home to the viewer.

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Social drinking, sometimes to excess, with brief depictions of recreational drug use.