Blonde

What’s it about?

Blonde reimagines the tumultuous private life of Marilyn Monroe (portrayed by Ana de Armas) and the price she paid for Hollywood fame.

The facts

• Runtime: 2 hrs 47 mins
• Director: Andrew Dominik
• The film is a fictional retelling of Marilyn Monroe’s life.

Why did it get this rating?

This film was self-rated by Netflix. You can find out more about self-rating by streaming providers here.

Rape, sex and sexual violence

The film shows both consensual and non-consensual sex.

Scenes include a threesome, Marilyn up close giving fellatio, and masturbation. Some of these scenes include breast and buttock nudity.

In two separate scenes Marilyn is raped by a film director (focused mainly on her face during the ordeal), and by President John F. Kennedy (this occurs off camera). One of these scenes includes close-up imagery of a penis.

Domestic violence

Marilyn’s difficult childhood and adult years are shown through domestic abuse, both by her mother, and by her second husband Joe DiMaggio. This includes an attempted drowning in the bath as a child, and being beaten (off camera) and being forcibly slapped.

Cruelty

Marilyn is shown being constantly belittled and underestimated by men in positions of power in the film industry. She is valued only for her body and good looks.

Marilyn is also shown being forcibly subjected to an abortion after booking one and then changing her mind. The scene shows her in distress on a hospital bed as the operation starts.

Self-harm

Marilyn self-medicates with alcohol and prescription drugs. It is clear she is suffering from mental illness and feels a great amount of loneliness. There is a car crash while she is driving under the influence.

In the final scene of the film Marilyn dies from an overdose of drugs and alcohol.

Language

Strong swear words such as "f**k" and "cock" are used infrequently but during tense situations throughout the film.

Marilyn is also called names such as "whore", "slut" and "tramp" when being belittled.

Support

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