Tender Indian drama shines light on gay and women's rights.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
Teenage school children push, shove, and yell angrily at each other. Classmates bully a teenage boy by insinuating that he has a romantic relationship with one of his friends.
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References to homosexuality, sexual needs, and intercourse, but no visuals. Suggestion (in the form of bullying) that two teens are in a romantic relationship. A character mentions that a couple was "caught red-handed."
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Some bystanders make homophobic remarks toward a gay man, asking him to sit behind his nephew "because that would be enjoyable." Words like "nut-case," "crazy," and "degenerate" are used. Note for Hindi dubbing: The Hindi dubbing contains offensive mistranslations. For example, instead of "homosexuality" the dialogue is changed to "suffering from self-pleasure disease." For this reason, it is advised to not watch the movie in its Hindi dubbing but rather in its original language (Malayalam) and/or with English subtitles.
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Family members sit around a dining table having drinks. A character gets drunk with their friend in a bar. In the next scene, they find their nephew drunk and throwing up. Perhaps speaking more to themselves than to the boy, they say that drinking alcohol does not solve any problems.
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Acceptance is a key theme of the movie, especially when it comes to people's sexual orientation. Recognizing when you have behaved badly and the importance of trying to make amends. Love and support can come in many different forms. Be true to yourself. The film is full of examples of courage, empathy, compassion, and perseverance.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Omana has put her own happiness on hold for nearly 20 years in order to protect her husband, Mathew. She only files for divorce and presents proof of his homosexuality once she was sure he could not be criminalized by the country's discriminatory laws. She writes romance novels, perhaps wishing for the love she never received from her husband. She holds herself with the utmost dignity even when support from her family and community is hard to come by, and eventually wins everyone over. She tells Mathew that she did not intend to out him in order to harm him, but rather to free him from the sham of their married life. Omana even campaigns for Mathew's election once they are divorced. They remain friends and Matthew even accompanies her to a date when she is nervous. Mathew's father comes to regret his role in forcing his son into a heterosexual marriage despite knowing he was in love with another man, Thankan. He apologizes to Mathew and there's even a glimpse of his acceptance for Thankan toward the end of the movie. Thankan himself shows vulnerability and sensitivity. His masculinity is soft and nurturing. He takes care of his nephew, Kuttayi, not just as his uncle, but also as a confidant. Though the families show initial reluctance, they ultimately end up doing the right thing for Mathew and Omana. Omana's brother, Tomy, in particular has a change of heart and declares his support for Omana, requesting Mathew to free her from their marriage. Voters and the general public show their support for Mathew and stand up for him when rumors about his sexuality start circulating.
Diverse Representations
a lot
The film is centered around a gay man -- played by an actor in his 70s -- in a heterosexual marriage. But it is his wife, Omana, who is the true central character. The movie is set in a small town in Kerala with a majority Roman Catholic population. The main characters belong to a traditional Catholic household. The other characters are a mix of Muslims and Hindus. The cast have diverse body types.
Parents need to know that Kaathal - The Core is an important Indian drama about a politician whose wife files for divorce on the grounds that he is a gay man. Starring Mammootty and Jyothika as husband and wife Mathew and Omana, the movie deals with extremely sensitive and mature topics. Homosexuality and women's rights are discussed at length, and the complexities of the marriage are explored thoughtfully and sensitively. However, younger children might struggle with some of the subtleties and unsaid messages of the story. There is some drinking -- including drunkenness displayed by one young character -- but it's acknowledged that drinking doesn't solve your problems. School kids are shown pushing and shoving each other and there is some bullying around a character's alleged sexual orientation. Please note: While the film in its original Malayalam language (with English subtitles available) is beautiful and sensitive toward women and the queer community, the Hindi dubbing is extremely homophobic with some appallingly offensive mistranslations. The Hindi version also discriminates toward the central character's Roman Catholic cultural and religious context by lazily changing names and religions of the characters. 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?
In KAATHAL - THE CORE, after 20 years of marriage, Omana (Jyothika) files for divorce from Mathew Devassy (Mammootty) alleging that Matthew is a gay man in a long-term relationship with his friend, Thankan (Sudhi Kozhikode). With Mathew standing as a candidate in the local body elections, the three of them embark on a complicated and difficult emotional journey.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say:Not yet rated
Kids say:Not yet rated
This Indian drama speaks volumes with minimal dialogue. Mammootty is a bonafide superstar, and for him to choose to play a gay man in Kaathal - The Core -- in his 70s -- is a huge statement! But the performances are stellar across the board. Mammootty's co-star Jyothika is brilliant as Omana, Mathew's wife. Her portrayal and poignant delivery forcing us to share her heartache. Elsewhere, Sudhi Kozhikode as Thankan, Mathew's lover, invokes deep emotions with just his eyes. His pain, his loneliness, his love -- all laid bare in the small glances he steals of Mathew. Director Jeo Baby retained many of his technicians from his much lauded The Great Indian Kitchen and it shows. With its excellent story and a cast and crew all bringing their A game, this is a progressive, bold, and potentially life-changing movie.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Kaathal - The Core portrayed its queer characters. Did they feel realistic? Why might a movie like this be considered important? Why representation matters in kids' media.
What do you think are some of the pressures the LGBTQ+ community face in both India and around the world? What can be done to make queer people feel safe and respected?
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
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 Ishmeet Nagpal
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
