The Assistant | 2019 | R | – 3.3.5

Why is “The Assistant” rated R? The MPAA rating has been assigned for “some language.” The Kids-In-Mind.com evaluation includes implied sexual activity in an office setting, sexual coercion by a man in a powerful position, and cleavage revealing outfits; many scenes of arguing and yelling over the telephone and behind office doors, and a man manipulating a young woman’s behavior to go along with what is happening in an office; and at least 4 F-words and other strong language. Read our parents’ guide below for details on sexual content, violence & strong language.”

---

A young woman (Julia Garner) fresh out of college joins a film production company in NYC as an assistant and quickly realizes that her work requirements include not only working long hours but also dealing with the dalliances of her controlling boss, as well as his frustrated wife. She has to compromise to be able to fit into the prescribed operation of the office and keep her job. Also with Matthew Macfadyen, Makenzie Leigh and Kristine Froseth. Directed by Kitty Green. A few lines of dialogue are spoken in a Chinese language without translation. [Running Time: 1:25]

The Assistant SEX/NUDITY 3

 – We hear a man laughing behind a closed door talking to a woman that’s with him; he calls out to his assistant saying that he won’t need her and she can leave (implying potential sexual activity in the office) and the young woman later sees movement in window and appears suspicious. A man tells a young woman that she has nothing to worry about, that she’s “Not his type” (he’s referring to her boss).
► A woman finds an earring on an office floor and cleans a spot of the sofa (previous sexual activity is implied). A man tells another man that he should never sit on the sofa in a man’s office and others laugh (previous sexual activities are implied).
► A woman wears a low-cut crop top that reveals cleavage and her bare abdomen. A woman wears a low-cut top that reveals cleavage. A young woman wears a knit top that reveals the outline of her camisole and bra underneath.

The Assistant VIOLENCE/GORE 3

 – A man yells at a young woman over the phone for “complaining” about him to an HR rep. We hear a man yelling at another man behind an office door and the second man comes out looking upset. A man yells at a young woman over the phone and berates her saying, “I thought you were smart.” Several men leave an office angrily after having been stood up by a man that they had an appointment with; another man tries to make excuses for the man. A woman yells at a young woman on the telephone and quizzes her about where her husband is. A woman on a telephone call complains to a young woman about her husband having blocked her credit cards and she yells at the young woman demanding that she do something about it. A woman brings two children to an office and a man yells at her for doing so.
► A woman scrambles to arrange travel for her boss at short notice in a few scenes. A man is upset when he learns that he is going to have to take a hastily planned trip with his boss. A young woman writes letters of apology to her boss a few times and two other men in the office dictate what she should say. A young woman is disappointed when she realizes that she forgot her father’s birthday. While a young woman cleans up a mess in a common room, two men look at her dismissively until she leaves the room. A man becomes upset when his food order is incorrect while looking at a young woman angrily, and he packs the food back up implying that he won’t eat it. Two men listen in on a phone call to their boss and laugh at the man on the other end of the line.
► A young woman goes to meet with a human resources rep to complain about suspicions she has about her boss taking advantage of a young woman and the rep is dismissive of her concerns, convincing her to not make an official complaint or that it would threaten her position with the company, asking, “Are you willing to throw it all away?” A man writes an email to a young woman saying, “I’m tough on you because I’m gonna make you great.”
► A young woman cleans up food and crumbs from desks and tables in a few scenes, and she washes dishes in a break room. A young woman puts two used syringes into a biohazard bag and throws them away.

The Assistant LANGUAGE 5

 – About 4 F-words, 2 scatological terms, 1 mild obscenity, name-calling (jealous, stressed out), exclamations (he’s gonna freak), 2 religious exclamations (e.g. Jesus, Jesus Christ). | profanity glossary |

The Assistant SUBSTANCE USE

 – A young woman stocks a cabinet with injectable medication (we see a picture of a syringe on the packaging), and a young woman fills a man’s desk drawer with prescription vials. Two men talk about going for a drink after work and one asks a young woman to join them (she does not). A young woman smokes a cigarette outside.

The Assistant DISCUSSION TOPICS

 – Film industry, aspirations, dashed dreams, infidelity, the casting couch, falling in line with office cultures, hiding inappropriate behavior.

The Assistant MESSAGE

 – Changing the behavior of people in power can be a very difficult thing to do without incurring personal cost.