Story

Teenage Tash (Coco Jack Gillies) lives with her parents, Sharon (Jacqueline McKenzie) and Doug (Stephen Hunter). Life at home isn’t good, because Tash’s parents are struggling to make ends meet.

Things get worse when Tash’s grandmother, Ruby (Jane Seymour), comes to live with them. Ruby has dementia and is becoming increasingly confused and frightened. And to complicate matters even more, Tash’s obnoxious cousin Ned and his father move in, because Ned’s parents are going through a divorce. Much to her annoyance, Tash has to share her bedroom with her grandmother to make room for everyone.

Tash goes from resenting her grandmother to becoming very close to her, discovering things about her past that even her mother didn’t know. Eventually the time comes for Ruby to move into a nursing home, but Ruby wants to be the one to choose where she goes.

Themes

Aging; dementia; family breakdown; adversity

Violence

Ruby’s Choice has some violence. For example:

  • Doug threatens to ‘punch the piss’ out of someone.
  • School bullies threaten Tash and another boy.
  • Ned comes to Tash’s school and joins the bullies. He joins in with teasing and taunting Tash. He pulls her hair and pushes her friend.
  • Sharon asks Tash to shoot her if she ever gets dementia like Ruby.
  • Some boys take Ruby’s umbrella and throw it around, while Ruby tries to get it back.

Sexual references

There are no sexual references in Ruby’s Choice.

Alcohol, drugs and other substances

Ruby’s Choice shows some use of substances. For example, Ruby drinks wine.

Nudity and sexual activity

There’s no nudity and sexual activity in Ruby’s Choice.

Product placement

The following products are displayed or used in Ruby’s Choice: Holden Monaro and Torana.

Coarse language

Ruby’s Choice has some coarse language.

Ideas to discuss with your children

Ruby’s Choice is a drama about the complexities of family life, which in this case include teenage bullying, financial problems, marriage breakdown, family separation, aging and dementia. It’s a sad movie in many ways, but it does show that some families will always be there for each other.

Because of its content, Ruby’s Choice is mainly aimed at older teenagers and adults. We don’t recommend it for children aged under 13 years.

The main messages from Ruby’s Choice are that families support each other, and that love can get you through adversity.

Values in Ruby’s Choice that you could reinforce with your children include:

  • caring for older relatives
  • standing up to bullies
  • forgiving others
  • redeeming yourself.

Ruby’s Choice could also give you the chance to talk with your children about real-life issues like why Ned behaves so badly towards Tash. Is he acting out his own negative feelings about his parents’ divorce?

Supported By

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.

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