Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that Venus in Fur is a two-character drama from director Roman Polanski based on a Tony-winning play. It deals heavily with sex, fetish, and innuendo. There's some brief female nudity (breasts, plus both breasts and full-frontal in glimpses of classic paintings), but the bulk of the movie's sex is in the form of strong suggestion, flirting, and discussion. Though the movie is in French with English subtitles, language is quite strong, with "f--k," "s--t," "c--t," and "d--k" showing up in the translation. There's also some brief violence: One character ties up another, and characters argue. The movie is significant because it was directed by Polanski, but for most teens, the material is probably too strong, and, frankly, too talky. There are no real lessons learned or conclusions drawn, and the only thing to really discuss is the dark side of human nature.
Sexual
Content
A woman's breast is shown in two shots; the first is very brief. In the second, she's naked and dancing with a large piece of cloth. She lets a breast show for a moment. The woman wears suggestive costumes. But the biggest issue is the movie's general discussion of sex, specifically the fetish of being submissive and being dominated. Characters discuss S&M and porn. There's a great deal of innuendo, flirting, and suggestion. A large, tall cactus leftover from an earlier play is mentioned as a phallic symbol; a woman makes playful thrusting motions against it. During the end credits, several classic paintings of nude women, topless and full-frontal, are shown.
Violence
In one scene, a character is tied up and left alone, but mostly for humiliation. Also arguing and verbal confrontation. There's a description of a boy being whipped by a birch switch and an imaginary re-enactment.
Language
The movie is in French with English subtitles; words seen include "f--k," "ass," "c--t," "bitch," "s--t," "d--k," "butt," "testicles," "idiot," and "hell."
Social
Behavior
The movie is basically a story of characters being dominated, whether willingly or unwillingly. It might be good for a discussion about the dark side of human nature, but no lessons are learned, and no conclusions are drawn.
Consumerism
Not applicable
Drugs / Tobacco /
Alcohol
Not applicable
