• Skip to content
  • Skip to navigation
Raising Children Network
  • Pregnancy
  • Newborns
  • Babies
  • Toddlers
  • Preschoolers
  • School age
  • Pre-teens
  • Teens
  • Grown-ups
  • Autism
  • Disability

Story

One Life is a beautifully filmed documentary about the animals, plants and insects with which we share the planet. It is part of a BBC television documentary series narrated by Daniel Craig.

The close-up photography of the most intimate aspects of plant and animal life is quite spectacular and is filmed in many diverse places on Earth. The movie shows a tribe of snow monkeys in a thermal pool in Japan’s freezing winter attacking any others who dare to enter. A baby elephant walks a very long way with its mother to a water hole and nearly dies along the way after getting stuck in the mud. The mating rites of a small red beetle are amazing to see, as the male climbs all the way to the top of a tree, fighting off suitors along the way.

Themes

Predatory animal behaviour; the circle of life; animals in peril.

Violence

One Life shows some violence. For example:

  • The snow monkeys attack any other monkeys that try to enter their pool.
  • A praying mantis eats a cricket, but then a chameleon eats the mantis.
  • Cheetahs chase and kill an ostrich.
  • Komodo dragons attack and kill a water buffalo.

Sexual references

None of concern

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

None

Nudity and sexual activity

One Life shows some beetles mating.

Product placement

None of concern

Coarse language

None

Ideas to discuss with your children

One Life is a visually stunning nature documentary with many close-up shots of animals and insects in their natural environments. This cinema release is part of the BBC Life television documentary series narrated by Daniel Craig.

For older children as well as adults, One Life is well worth seeing. But younger children are likely to be upset by images of animals being killed and eaten by other animals.

The main message from this movie is that we have only one Earth, and we must share its resources with all of the animals and plants that live on it. The movie also shows the interconnectedness of all living things.

This movie could also give you the chance to talk with your children about why animals kill other animals for their food and how humans fit into the food chain.

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

Follow us on social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
Sign up now to get free parenting news delivered to your inbox.
Aboriginal flag (c) WAM Clothing
Torres Strait Islands flag
At raisingchildren.net.au we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live, gather and work. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
  • Privacy statement
  • Terms of use

© 2006-2023 Raising Children Network (Australia) Limited. All rights reserved.

Warning: This website and the information it contains is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation with a qualified practitioner.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation (HON) and complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information.