Compassionate drama about grief, theater; strong language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Language
a lot
Language includes "f--k," "f---ing," "d--k," "a--hole," "bitch," "s--t," "dips--t," "dumba--," "f--kwit," "hell," "motherf---er." Also words that could be seen as ableist, like "stupid," and exclamatory use of "Jesus Christ" and "God."
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The main character has angry outbursts and yells at people, in one case verging on physical assault. Discussions about a teen getting suspended for physically assaulting a teacher. Violent/sad moments in Romeo and Juliet, such as death by suicide and stabbings. An off-screen character is described as having died by suicide. Other scenes of grief, strife, and sadness, sometimes with yelling.
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One scene shows two people kissing as if they're preparing to have sex, but they stop. Kissing scenes within the context of acting, such as in Romeo and Juliet or in rehearsals. A character makes a lewd joke about masturbation.
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Dr. Pepper and Fridays (aka TGI Fridays) are mentioned.
Positive Messages
a lot
Highlights the importance of familial communication, empathy, and compassion. Also shows how the arts can help ease emotional pain and create feelings of community and support.
Positive Role Models
some
Dan is barely keeping himself together after his son's unexpected death. He can't process the grief, so instead he emotionally explodes, which puts pressure on his family. But once he starts participating in a theatrical company, he develops compassion and empathy for himself and even those he thought he would never forgive. His family also comes together emotionally and grows closer and more compassionate for each other in the process. Daisy acts out and gets in trouble a lot, but the reasons for that become clear over the course of the movie.
Diverse Representations
some
Dan (Keith Kupferer) and his family members are White. Another main character, Rita (Dolly De Leon), is a Filipina American woman who becomes an important influence on both Dan and his daughter, Daisy (Katherine Mallen Kupferer). Additional people of color in the supporting cast. The characters are well developed and non-stereotypical; male and female characters have agency. Offers a non-traditional take on Romeo and Juliet, with middle-aged characters playing Romeo and Juliet. A range of body types is represented, with all characters looking like actual people. Director/co-writer Kelly O'Sullivan is a female filmmaker.
Parents need to know that Ghostlight is an emotional drama about a man who finds his way through intense grief by joining a community theater group. There are a few scenes with kissing and lewd humor, as well as strong language (from "f-k" and "s--t" to "hell," "bitch," and "Jesus Christ") and substance use (smoking, vaping, drinking). The main character has angry outbursts, in one case leading to near physical assault. People discuss a character who has died by suicide, and there are many moments in which characters are sad and angry about the loss. But there are lighter, heartwarming scenes, too, and compassion, communication, and empathy are key factors in the film's storytelling. The film's characters are diverse across race, gender, and age. 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?
GHOSTLIGHT follows Dan (Keith Kupferer), a Chicago-area construction worker who can't face his pain over his son's tragic death. He doesn't expect that the theater, a place his daughter Daisy (Kupferer's real-life daughter, Katherine Mallen Kupferer) loves, could be a place of solace for him. But after being invited to join a local theater company that's rehearsing Romeo and Juliet, Dan finds that the play hits very close to home.
This drama is a wonderful character study of a family dealing with intense grief, particularly when it comes to father/husband Dan. Dan feels deeply, but, as he admits, he's part of a generation that was taught to bottle up their emotions. His lack of training around feelings makes him lash out or flee instead of expressing himself. He quickly finds out that those reactions do more harm than good, but -- as he gets deeper into the world of the theater -- he also realizes that his emotions can serve him in positive ways. The way that Dan's personal life ends up paralleling parts of his stage life in Romeo and Juliet feels a bit forced at times. But aside from that, Ghostlight is a loving tribute to dealing with grief and the idea that healing can come from unexpected places. And the fact that the three actors playing the central characters -- Kupferer; his wife, Tara Mallen; and their daughter, Mallen Kupferer -- are a real-life family gives the whole project an extra layer of poignancy.
If you or someone you love need mental health support, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
How does the movie portray grief? How does loss affect Dan? And how does the way he deals (or doesn't deal) with his grief affect his family? Can you think of other movies that address similar themes?
What message is the film sending about the importance of theater and the arts? How does the theater bring Dan's family closer together? How does it affect your feelings about the film to know that the actors playing Dan, Sharon, and Daisy are a real-life family?
When is it important to talk about mental health, especially if you're worried about a friend or family member? What resources are available to help both kids and adults? If you or someone you love needs mental health support, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
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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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Monique Jones
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