Son Watching War Movie

We watched it in school, in 8th grade. How old are you in 8th grade...13/14? It is a very graphic movie...we had to have a signed permission slip to watch it. I remember being a bit horrified over it, and I was an expert on horror movies by that point.

I think that is about when I first saw it. What an amazing movie really and Liam Neelson is wonderful in his role. However if you want to dip into this topic with a "lighter" film, although it is subtitled "A Beautiful Life" actually manages to make you smile while showing the perspective of a Jewish family.

I watched it at 12, was more mature then most, and was certainly too young. Way too young. No, I don't think really any 11 year old is mature enough to see that.

I think the movie will still be there in about 5 or 6 years and he can see it then.
He might be a very mature kid.
But why burden him with such graphic torture at 11 yrs old?
I think of this as protecting his innocence.
He has plenty of time to learn that there are horrible things in the world.
He doesn't need to learn about them now.

My dad took me to see Apocalypse Now when I was ten and I'm still traumatized at 43.

Sorry, I disagree. Look, he has plenty of time to watch that movie later. My NINTH GRADER had a lot of trouble watching Saving Private Ryan. I have never forgotten watching the movie Space Cowboys with my son right after he finished 4th grade - he loved watching that movie (who doesn't love Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, all these old guys!). At the end, when the astronaut is sitting on the moon, the one who gave his life (was it Tommy Lee?), all of a sudden my son realized that he DIED, and he cried. I comforted him and told him that the Bible says that "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" and though it IS sad, he saved everybody. THIS kind of thing is the way to help prepare a child for much HARDER scenarios, especially the real ones, like WWII atrocities.

You may disagree with me and let him watch it. What I would ask you to think about is this: where do you go from here? If he watches the hardest stuff like this at age 11, where does he go from there?

This movie deeply disturbed me as an adult. I know all the violent scenes of shooting people for no reason or someone just walking in the camp and getting shot really bothered me. I am pretty sure that it would haunt a child. My vote is no way.

Hey T.,

Common Sense Media suggests that this movie is right on target for 15 year olds, due to the graphic nature of the torture and cruelty perpetrated against the Jews as well as the sexual situations, which are unsettling. Here's the link... I highly recommend reading their review and see if it feels right for your son.

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/schindlers-...

Just something to consider: there is a great difference between reading something and our imagination filling in the details and being exposed to a very graphic depiction of atrocities one may not be ready to deal with visually. Kind of the same reason I don't watch the 'world most devasting earthquakes/volcanos' sort of shows. I know they exist, but don't really need to *watch* that stuff over and over. You know your son. Will it raise his level of anxiety or fear? And what would be the point? If it were me, with my child, I'd wait until they were old enough to also understand the sexual relationships of the movie. Much older than eleven. Read the review.:)

I would not show him that. Other movies that you could show him that are poignant Holocaust-focused but not damaging are: "Life is Beautiful" which is really a bittersweet film, and "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas."

The violence and adult themes in "Schindler's List" are hard to get out of your head, even as an adult.

ETA: Another WWII movie that is good, but does have some adult themes in it is "Pearl Harbor." The violence in it isn't so gorey, and it is mostly air assaults and submarine warfare.

My son is 11, and a complete history buff. He has seen it and so has my now 9 year old DD. It is a hard movie to watch, but they enjoyed it, as much as you can on the subject matter. I was also unsure, but it is a part of history, and he really wanted to see it. Later down the road we watched The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. They both did fine with the subject matter.

I think this is one movie where a parent knows their child best, and would be the best at deciding whether or not their child can handle watching it.

I saw that movie when it came out, granted on video but I was only 10 at the time. I had no issue at all watching that movie but I've always been a WW2 history freak. I'm also of West German decent and it appealed to me on that level as well.

You know your child best. I would and have allowed my 9 year old daughter to watch it. I don't see it as traumatizing but then again I don't see any movie as such. Do what you think is best.

11 is too young for that movie. There is plenty of time for it.

schindlers list is too intense for an 11 yr old. MUCH different than diary of anne Frank.

It's very graphic.

Kudos to you for encouraging your son's love of history but I would wait before seeing Shindler's List. I think it is too intense for age 11. Our kids are only kids for such a short time so I am in no hurry for mine to lose their innocence. They have all their lives to learn about the nature of evil. The movie is so well done so it really transports the viewer into the horrors of that time.

I love Schindler's List. Wow what an emotionally powerful movie (I do not recall how old I was when I saw it, but i think High School age). I do remember reading "The Endless Steppe" in 5th or 6th grade. It is similar to Anne Frank. I also read "A Book Thief" as an adult and I do not recall if it is appropriate for 11 year olds, but there is a movie coming out in early 2014.

some 11 year olds are, for sure. we did it in homeschool during our WWII study when the boys were 12 and 15. it was fine.
but some adults have a hard time with it. how sensitive is your son?
khairete
S.

I think you know your son best and if you feel he is ready, then watch it with him.

Common Sense Media gives it a ranking for ages 15+
They have detailed categories of issues as well as professional and user reviews.

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/schindlers-...

I'm 42 and I don't even want to see it.
I know the horrors, the history, the stories. But I don't want to see it re-enacted on the big screen or any screen honestly.
I don't really watch or enjoy any "realistic" war movie of any kind. I get that they are horrible without the visual thank you very much.
I don't show them to my kids either for this reason.
But, in the end, you know your kid and if you think he's going to be OK watching it and will enjoy it then absolutely do so. You can always turn it off if you find it's not something he should be watching. Watch it with him and make sure you're prepared to talk about things, explain things etc.

T.:

My kids are 10 and 13 and haven't seen Schindler's List. They did however, hear about concentration camps through my now deceased father in law who survived Buchenwald.

The diary of Anne Frank is simple compared to seeing the stuff they show in Schindler's list.

Has your son seen "Saving Private Ryan"? How did he handle that? if he can handle that movie, then he might be able to handle Schindler's list.

If YOU feel he's mature enough to watch it, he's YOUR son.

Good luck!