Story

Themes

Crime and punishment; the abuse of power; social stratification

Violence

This movie has some limited violence. For example:

• The re-enactments and interviews are separated by snapshots of old images – for example, paintings and sketches – that show historical moments such as social revolution, public hangings and graphic executions. These images are shown with background noises of gunshots, sword fights and other violent sounds. This happens as historians discuss the way that rural England was breaking down at the time.
• The scenes where Ikey is moved to Port Arthur have images and sketches of people being lashed with whips.
• Ann slaps and hits her husband Ikey, struggling against him physically as she cries, ‘They took away my children’. Ikey tries to hold her back.
• Ms Newman slaps Ann after calling her a thief, and has Ann sent to the women’s prison just for arguing with her.
• At his daughter’s wedding, Ikey throws a drink in the face of Ann’s new lover. The two men have a fight. The fight is quickly broken up.

Sexual references

This movie has a few sexual references. For example:

• When Ikey is talking about Charles Dickens, he mentions with disgust that Dickens’s wife ran a brothel and that he had a dozen mistresses.
• One of the interviewees states that the upper class led ‘very risqué lives’, with ‘lots of scandal and sexual immorality’.
• Ikey hears from fellow townspeople that Ann has been having an affair with another man who regularly visits her house. When she arrives, Ikey yells, ‘Whore! You whore!’ Ann is shocked and distressed.
• There are town rumours of Ikey’s daughter, Nancy, being involved in a sexual scandal. The details are never described.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

This movie shows some use of substances. For example:

• Men drink in a pub.
• When talking about life in prison, Ikey says, ‘All you could do was drink and gamble’.
• To escape, Ikey organises for his gaolers’ drinks to be spiked with drugs. They fall unconscious, and Ikey has a chance to run.
• Ikey immediately begins drinking again after hearing that Ann might have been unfaithful.

Nudity and sexual activity

This movie shows some sexual activity when Ikey and Ann kiss at different times throughout the movie.

Product placement

None of concern

Coarse language

This movie has some coarse language. For example:

• Ikey describes Charles Dickens’ novel as ‘filth and lies’.
• Ikey repeatedly calls Anne a ‘whore’ in front of their children.

Ideas to discuss with your children

The First Fagin is a documentary drama about the life of Isaac ‘Ikey’ Solomon, a 19th-century criminal. The movie follows him as he travels from London to Gotham and eventually to the penal colony at Van Diemen’s Land. The movie reveals the consequences of Ikey’s criminal actions, the police actions and the general public’s response to him.

If you have younger children, you should note that the movie contains violence – including images of executions – some coarse language and themes that make it more suited to older teenagers and adults.

Values in this movie that you could reinforce with your children include:

• acting according to the law and not doing criminal things, no matter how minor
• standing by your family and doing your best to help them in every situation
• fighting for what you believe is just and right
• behaving with integrity and being honest with other people.

This movie could also give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life issues such as:

• the consequences of criminal activity, which the movie goes into quite deeply. For example, Ikey’s life is affected by several choices he makes, long after he has served his prison sentence and started leading a life without crime
• the importance of being faithful to your partner, and the way that relationships can break down over many years.