Dickens & Rumi
Cover of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

film

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

2009

After a carnival troupe saves his life, a man agrees to help its immortal leader collect five souls and win a bet with the devil.

Ages 15+Source checked

Why this age? Dark supernatural themes include a Devil's bargain involving a 16-year-old's soul, hanging and lynching, organ trafficking, death, coercion, grief, frightening imagery, and implied sexual feelings. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age15+

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5
  • Religious themes3/5

Strongest positives

  • Creativity & curiosity5/5
  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Positive messages3/5

What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

Minimal; the film is an original art-house production with no significant tie-ins.

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

A character dies by lynching, another falls into a void, and souls are threatened or claimed. Death, loss, and grief are important to the story.

Graphic injury2/5
Why this rating?

Some dark imagery, including mention of organ theft and scenes of hanging.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

The film includes some moderate verbal hostility and likely occasional profanity, but language is not a major focus and the excerpts are incomplete.

Religious themes3/5
Why this rating?

The Devil, souls, immortality, temptation, moral choice, and damnation-like bargains are central supernatural themes, though not tied to a specific faith tradition.

Romance2/5
Why this rating?

Love, marriage, attraction, and a daughter's imagined romantic feelings appear, but romance is secondary to the supernatural moral plot.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

The Devil, soul bargains, hanging, a surreal magical realm, collapsing landscapes, pursuit, and threatening transformations create sustained disturbing imagery.

Sexual content & nudity2/5
Why this rating?

Includes implied sexual situations and surreal exploration of romantic desire.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Characters are shown drinking, and alcoholism is referenced as a character trait.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Characters fight, are pursued by gangsters and a mob, and one character is lynched. Violence is fantastical or stylized but includes serious peril.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Characters confront the Devil, danger, moral corruption, and loss, with several acts of loyalty and sacrifice amid frightening circumstances.

Creativity & curiosity5/5
Why this rating?

The magical Imaginarium, shifting identities, surreal dream worlds, theatrical design, and imaginative moral choices are central creative features.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Features a multi-generational and diverse cast, though primarily focused on the core fantasy archetypes.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Offers insight into visual storytelling and surrealism but is not overtly educational.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

The troupe rescues a vulnerable man and some characters protect one another, while exploitation and betrayal create substantial counterexamples.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The story emphasizes moral responsibility, the consequences of selfish bargains, resisting easy gratification, and the danger of exploitation and corruption.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Characters show loyalty, love, and moral opposition to fraud, but adults also make reckless bargains and commit serious exploitation, offering mixed examples.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What was the most imaginative idea in the story, and what would you add to it?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, and what caused that change?
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These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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