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Story

Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) is the younger sister of Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft Holmes (Sam Claflin). She finds herself on a journey in search of her mother (Helena Bonham Carter), who has disappeared to continue her fight for women’s suffrage.

As Enola follows clues to her mother’s location, she must overcome obstacles including a strict teacher (Fiona Shaw), who wants to force her into a finishing school for girls, and a young viscount (Louis Partridge), who’s on the run from his greedy family. Enola’s adventure takes her beyond finding her mother and towards understanding herself and how she can change the world for the better.

Themes

Separation from a parent; death of a parent; body shaming; children as victims

Violence

Enola Holmes has some violence. For example:

  • When Enola talks back to Mrs Harrison, Mrs Harrison slaps Enola’s face.
  • Enola hits a man on the back of the head with a walking cane to stop him from throwing someone off a train.
  • Women participate in a martial arts class in which they hit, kick and throw each other.
  • A man repeatedly forces Enola’s head underwater. He’s trying to get information from her.
  • Enola headbutts a man, which makes his nose bleed.
  • A man stabs Enola but she’s unhurt.
  • Enola hits Detective Lestrade in the face with a hot kettle.
  • A man stalks Enola and Viscount Tewksbury. He wants to shoot them dead.
  • A man tries to strangle Viscount Tewksbury with a metal wire.
  • A man hits his head on a doorknob and dies. Blood is visible.
  • Viscount Tewksbury’s grandmother shoots him in the chest. He appears to be dead, but he survives.

Sexual references

There are no sexual references in Enola Holmes.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

Enola Holmes shows some use of substances. For example:

  • Adult characters drink alcohol.
  • Adult characters smoke pipes.

Nudity and sexual activity

There is no nudity and sexual activity in Enola Holmes.

Product placement

There is no product placement in Enola Holmes.

Coarse language

Enola Holmes has some mild coarse language, including ‘hell’, ‘damn’ and ‘bloody’.

Ideas to discuss with your children

Enola Holmes is a period adventure with feel-good friendships, themes of female empowerment, and plenty of mystery and intrigue.

Because of its violence and scary scenes, Enola Holmes is best suited to children aged 13 years and older, with parental guidance to 15 years.

These are the main messages from this movie:

  • Women have the right to independence and autonomy.
  • Friends and family should help each other in times of need.

Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include gender equality and women’s right to be educated, vote and be treated with respect.

This movie could also give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life risks like cutting your hair with a knife and eating wild mushrooms without knowing what they are. You could also talk about the effects on women’s self-esteem of commenting on their bodies and telling them to lose weight.

Supported By

  • Department of Social Services

Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.

Member Organisations

  • Parenting Research Centre
  • The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
  • Murdoch Children's Research Institute

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