Z for Zachariah parents guide

Z for Zachariah Parent Guide

By the time the credits roll, one wonders if the last woman on earth should not have been more careful when she prayed for a cure for her loneliness.

Overall C+

As far as they know, Ann Burden (Margot Robbie), Caleb (Chris Pine) and Loomis (Chiwetel Ejiofor) are the last human survivors in the world. Now the future of mankind is caught up in a rather awkward love triangle.

Release date August 28, 2015

Violence C+
Sexual Content C
Profanity C-
Substance Use C

Why is Z for Zachariah rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Z for Zachariah PG-13 for a scene of sexuality, partial nudity, and brief strong language.

Run Time: 95 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Alphabetically speaking, if Adam was the name of the first man on Earth, would the last one be called Zachariah? It’s a hypothetical question, and actually rather irrelevant to Ann (Margot Robbie) who is—as far as she is aware—the last human being left living.

About six years earlier, an unspecified nuclear disaster destroyed the planet. Miraculously, the valley where Ann was living avoided radiation contamination. Still the other residents, including her father and brother, were lost while trying to find possible survivors. Yet by faithfully obeying her Dad’s command to stay and keep the family farm going, Ann has hung on to existence.

Then one day she stumbles upon another breathing person, who she observes jubilantly climbing out of a radiation suit and into a pool of clear water. Horrified, Ann tries to warn the stranger that the waterfall feeding the pond comes from an impure source. But he mistakes both her unexpected appearance and her instance that he leave the water as hostile acts. It takes a few minutes and some gun threats before the real danger of the situation is understood.

Full of compassion, Ann brings John Loomis (Chiwetel Ejiofor) back to her home, scrubs him off (partial nudity is seen) and nurses him through his ensuing radiation sickness. Because she is the daughter of a pastor, she also pleads with God to spare the fortyish man’s life. When he recovers, Ann feels like she has found a helpful companion and a fatherly protector.

John sees their circumstances somewhat differently. Not religious, he doesn’t accept the idea that they have been spared by divine intervention, although he does realize his scientific knowledge and mechanical skills, coupled with Ann’s agricultural experience, are the perfect match for giving the world a fresh start. And he hasn’t failed to notice they are the last man and woman on Earth…

It takes a while (and a lot of wine) before Ann resigns herself to her role as Eve in John’s plan for their future. And just about the time that she does, the most amazing complication occurs: Another man (Chris Pine) wanders into their Eden—and this one is young, handsome and Christian.

The introduction of Caleb turns the plot of this Robinson-Crusoe-like sci-fi into a rather tedious love triangle. Between the boys’ thinly veiled jealous comments are slightly seductive shots of Ann (especially her bare legs). She endures drunken passes from both suitors (one is verbally abusive and shouts a sexual expletive at her), until Ann herself begins to try to seduce her male companions. In one scene she removes her dress and is seen in her underwear. In another, she passionately fondles a man’s bare chest and he returns her interest with kisses, removing their clothes (bare backs and shoulders shown) and implied sexual relations.

Other content concerns are comments about the violent acts committed by desperate survivors (including John and Caleb), along with confessions of despair that border on suicidal thoughts. By the time the credits roll, one wonders if Ann should not have been more careful when she prayed for a cure for her loneliness. One thing is certain though: This new beginning for the human race will be beset by all the world’s old problems.

Directed by Craig Zobel. Starring Margot Robbie, Chris Pine, Chiwetel Ejiofor. Running time: 95 minutes. Theatrical release August 28, 2015. Updated

Z for Zachariah
Rating & Content Info

Why is Z for Zachariah rated PG-13? Z for Zachariah is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for a scene of sexuality, partial nudity, and brief strong language.

Note:Z for Zachariah is opening in limited theaters and on Video-On-Demand.

Violence:
Hunting and trap setting are depicted – dead animals are shown. Gun threats occur. Fear of radiation poisoning causes panic and physical attacks. Stories are told of a sick boy begging to be shot and of men killing one another with their bare hands. A character confesses to killing some one. Another murder is implied.

Sexual Content:
Characters are shown bathing (nudity is obscured). Shirtless men are seen. Embracing, passionate kissing and fondling are shown. A couple undresses one another (nudity obscured). Sexual relations are strongly implied. An un-married sexual relationship is alluded to. Sensual shots of a woman’s legs are shown. A man hints at the possibility of having children with a woman and later verbally expresses sexual interest in her. A drunk man forcefully presses himself against a trapped girl and tries to kiss her. A woman is seen using a toilet and then pulling up her underwear (no nudity shown). A couple dances in a close embrace. A woman undresses down to her underwear and invites a man to have sex with her. Characters swim in their underwear.

Language:
A sexual expletive is used in a non-sexual context. A scatological slang word is heard.

Alcohol / Drug Use:
A character drinks a lot of beer until he is inebriated. An experienced drinker gets tipsy on wine. Wine is frequently consumed with dinner. Characters get drunk and a hangover is mentioned. Medicine is injected into a person’s arm.

Other:
Religious characters pray before meals. A young woman seeks solace in an abandoned church and prays to God.

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Z for Zachariah Parents' Guide

This movie is based on the book Z For Zachariah by Robert C. O’Brien.

In the movie Ann often plays the organ in a small chapel built by her father. What purpose does John propose for the building? Why is it so hard for Ann to consider destroying it? How is the church and its fate a metaphor for what is happening in the story?

If this tale is a modeled after the Adam and Eve story found in the Bible (Genesis 2:4 – 3:24), which of the characters represents Satan, who tempts the woman to sin? What does he use to entice her? What are the likely consequences if she follows him?

What would your priorities be if you thought you were the last person on Earth? What price would you be willing to pay for your survival?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Z for Zachariah movie is October 20, 2015. Here are some details…

Z fFor Zachariah releases to home video (DvVD or Blu-ray) on October 20, 2015.

Related home video titles:

Planet of the Apes is another tale about human survival in a post-apocalyptic world. In Cast Away, a lone man survives a plane crash and tries to stay alive on a disserted island. The movie The Secret of NIMH is also based on a Robert C. O’Brien novel.