Character-driven Jewish family drama tackles mature themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
Adult men discuss, pour, drink whiskey. Beloved patriarch affectionately described as never drinking water, only whiskey and seltzer. Glasses of wine sit on the table during Thanksgiving dinner; no bottles visible. Adults smoke cigarettes and cigars in multiple scenes. A '50s-era nightclub shows adults drinking martinis. A woman tells her husband she's pregnant; in the same scene, she drinks alcohol and smokes cigarettes. No one ever appears drunk.
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Main character robbed; a hand smears blood on a car window as his son watches from inside. (Later viewers find out he was stabbed; it's never depicted.) Concentration camps mentioned multiple times in context of characters' refugee stories. A swarm of bees chases and surrounds kids; a boy screams until scene fades into image of him stung all over his face, the doctor saying he'll be fine. Kids gross each other out by talking about how the turkey they're eating for dinner was alive, then killed in the basement. Large explosion seen during a black-and-white movie at the theater. A streetcar goes off the rails and crashes into a main character's car. A traumatized girl wakes up screaming, tears running down her face. Boys douse model airplanes in glue and set them on fire, one time with firecrackers, which leads to peril. Dangerous-looking sparklers and fireworks explode on a street during the Fourth of July, a boy running through them. A large building catches fire and emits billowing smoke; sirens and firefighters on scene. A character collapses; their family is later seen attending their funeral.
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Chrysler and Nash cars called out by name when spotted by character. TV shows mentioned or seen on-screen include Howdy Doody, Texaco Star Theatre, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. Someone gets a job working for McCormick spice. Pyrex ad visible in passing.
Language
a little
"Lunatic," "for god's sake," "to hell with you," "god forbid," "goddamn," and "busting our asses."
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One character falls in love with another at first sight. An engaged couple kiss chastely in front of the soon-to-be groom's father. A married couple share a lingering kiss after good news.
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Tell the truth, even if it might get you into trouble. It's OK to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. Family can be frustrating, but it's important to stay connected and support one another.
Diverse Representations
some
Written and directed by Jewish American filmmaker Barry Levinson, Avalon stars a multigenerational family of Polish immigrants. Their Jewish heritage arrives through mention of relatives being in concentration camps, spoken Yiddish and Polish, a Star of David glimpsed on a headstone, a rabbi presiding over a funeral. Jewish characters and family elders are deeply humanized: resilient, flawed, funny, romantic, petty, etc. Women are strong matriarchs and speak their minds, but they defer to their husbands; the film mainly follows male characters. Unfortunately, Black people are treated as window dressing, visible only in crowd shots or as nightclub performers and dancers. Native Americans are reduced to mascot-like illustrations or cartoons, seen briefly on TV in two scenes.
Sam and his relatives bravely immigrated to the U.S. Simka and his family survived concentration camps to start a new life, even as trauma haunts them. Jules and cousin Izzy are successful entrepreneurs, graceful in the face of financial ruin. Even as a young boy, Michael does the right thing and tells the truth when he has done something bad. But some negative traits can be seen through family members who are short-tempered with each other, who are petty and hold stubborn grudges. A boy tries to intimidate Michael into keeping his mouth shut about the damage they caused.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Avalon is writer-director Barry Levinson's third semi-autobiographical film in a series of four set in his hometown of Baltimore. As viewers follow a Polish Jewish immigrant family in mid-20th century United States, topics such as concentration camps, refugee camps in Poland, and the advent of television and modern retail all provide historical backdrop. Avalon's serious themes may be best suited for teens and up: A child thinks he's responsible for the fire that destroys his father's business, family members argue and hold grudges, and grandparents die or experience onset dementia. Adults consistently smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol. Perilous situations include kids playing with explosives like firecrackers, sparklers, and fireworks. A large building catches fire and goes up in smoke, with sirens blaring and firefighters on the scene. Positive messages of resilience and perseverance enter the story, much of it seen through the eyes of young Michael (Elijah Wood in one of his earliest roles). The largely sweet and nostalgic, if a bit melancholy, film deeply humanizes Jewish Americans and immigrants, although that doesn't extend to Native Americans, who are invisible except as illustrated mascots or balloons seen on TV sets. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
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What's the Story?
AVALON centers on the family of Sam Krichinsky (Armin Mueller-Stahl), who immigrated to the United States on the Fourth of July, 1914. As he tells it in his later years, Sam thought the holiday fireworks were for him, a personal welcome to the most beautiful place he'd ever seen. Memories reveal how Sam and his four brothers make a living in their new country by hanging wallpaper, though they're all musicians. Their U.S.-born children are ambitious and career-driven, veering away from the habits and principles of older generations. Television and modern values gradually seep into their lives, leading to questions about the importance of family and what makes someone strong.
Slow and thoughtful, with enough bickering relatives to make everything a bit claustrophobic, this drama features an impressive cast. Stars include Joan Plowright, Aidan Quinn, Elizabeth Perkins, and Kevin Pollak. Writer-director Barry Levinson does for Avalon what he does best: digging close to his roots and reliving his own formative years in Baltimore, much as he did in the three other films: Diner,Tin Men, and Liberty Heights.
There are laughs and small triumphs, but the overlying tone is one of regret over how times have changed. That bitterness can get in the way of the fun. Younger children might get fidgety at the movie's leisurely pace, but older kids may come away with a new appreciation for who they are and a greater curiosity about where they came from. They might even be willing to sit down and listen to some of their parents' stories.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about their own history based on the way Avalon explores the Krichinskys'. Use the film as a jumping-off point to discuss family stories and loved ones who are no longer with you.
Does Avalon have a happy or sad ending? What makes you think so? Can it be both at the same time?
Do you think the women in the film are "strong"? Why, or why not? Are they equal to the male characters in the film?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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