| 12+ cautions: immodesty and mild sensuality, some language, mild ethical confusion, some emotional intensity, and a scene of blood
Sense and Sensibility of 1995 is a serious romantic drama well suited for serious fans of romantic drama. Fortune-less sisters Elinor and Marianne find themselves falling for the ideal gentlemen, only to discover that the relationships are not merely discouraged, they are impossible. The characters seem to live life on the horizontal plane, with spiritual encouragement bordering on conspicuously absent, but their sisterly affection is admirable, and their sisterly journey is definitely dramatic.
1995 | Ang Lee | 131 min Watch Trailer
Immodesty and Mild Sensuality
Women reveal some cleavage constantly, and quite a bit of cleavage on occasion.
A woman is said to have been “passed from man to man” and to have borne “an illegitimate child”.
A small, male nude statue appears once in the background.
Some Language
G-d
G-d
The word “b-tch” is used in a non-sensational way in reference to a dog.
Mild Ethical Confusion
Positively-portrayed women struggle with continuing romantic affection for men who are promised to others.
A side character’s unresolved sarcasm and coldness toward his wife are portrayed as amusing; likewise, his grimace as he holds his screaming infant son. The man is shown to be very reasonable and sympathetic to other characters.
A principal character expresses a desire to become a clergyman, and adds that his ideal life involves giving “very short sermons.” Marianne asks, and is allowed, to stay behind from church in order to have a private meeting with her lover (whom, for all she knew, she might have seen privately on any other day, or at any other time). The other family members sit under an officious minister, and the younger sister talks during the service.
Elinor, the older, wiser sister, claims that they have “no hope and no choice of any occupation whatsoever,” and “cannot even earn” their fortune. Even within the historical context, this is at best hyperbole.
Some Emotional Intensity
A young woman is very ill. A doctor advises another character to prepare herself for the young woman’s death. Other characters are extremely distraught and emotionally fragile.
A man is sick in bed, and implied to be dying. Later his widow is seen weeping.
A Scene of Blood
A woman is briefly seen being bled, with a small slit in her arm dripping into a bowl. Another bowl full of blood is carried out of the room.
Note:
An eleven year old girl play swordfights with a man, and is referred to as “Captain Margaret”. Joking references are made to her plans to travel and take the man with her as a “very badly treated” servant. It is also joked, “Perhaps Margaret is right: piracy is our only option.”
A main character displays foolish behavior and ideas, which are later resolved. The main characters’ mother is sometimes foolish and often does not know what is best.
A negatively-portrayed character offers a memento as “a talisman against further injury”, which is accepted, though not necessarily in that light.
Someone speculates that a man would have “done himself a harm” if it hadn’t been for a friend.
A character is described as “proud, in the best sense,” meaning that he would hesitate to accept charity.
Characters drink wine. Rum is mentioned.
