Common Sense Media Review
By Ana María Carrano , based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark tragicomedy has strong violence and sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Wild Tales
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In WILD TALES, six independent stories depict vulnerable characters whose lives change as they lose control in frustrating situations. Passengers on a flight soon realize there is a disturbing relationship between them. A disgruntled engineer tries to teach his city council a lesson. A waitress is alarmed by the cook's reaction when she tells her who that customer is. Two drivers confront each other irrationally on a desolate road. Several characters negotiate a deal to cover up a crime. A heartbreak reveals the dark sides of an engaged couple at their wedding.
Is It Any Good?
In Wild Tales, unpredictable violence reaches such absurd and grotesque extremes as to be hilarious. Situations suddenly spiral out of control and become tragic, murky or decadent. All the stories, although seemingly unconnected, have in common that they narrate a form of destruction. It features excellent performances in all segments.
Directed by Damián Szifron, the film is produced by Pedro Almodóvar, Agustín Almodóvar and Hugo Sigman. It is reminiscent of some of Quentin Tarantino's films featuring absurd, laugh-out-loud violence or more recently, Beef, the terrific series that deals with cartoonish revenge, but at its core addresses issues such as depression and interpersonal relationships but without sacrificing entertainment. Because of the violent scenes, Wild Tales is not recommended for young children.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about ways to handle frustrations. How can you process conflict situations with others in a healthy way? Which characters handle their emotions well?
They can also talk about the use of violence to achieve an end. Did the film affect the way you perceive violence? Can intense violence create a deeper emotional connection between the audience and the stories? Does it realistically show the consequences of violence?
If it were your turn to live through the situations that Relatos Salvajes poses, what decisions would you make? Do you think those decisions might lead to different outcomes?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 5, 2014
- On DVD or streaming: June 16, 2015
- Cast: Ricardo Darin , Leonardo Sbaraglia , Oscar Martinez , Erica Rivas , Rita Cortese
- Director: Damián Szifron
- Inclusion Information: Latino directors, Latino actors, Female actors, Latino writers
- Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 122 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: violence, language and brief sexuality
- Award: BAFTA - BAFTA Winner
- Last updated: June 20, 2024
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