The Rule of Jenny Pen

What’s it about?

While recovering from a stroke in a nursing home, a former judge discovers that one of the residents is terrorising the home with a child's puppet called Jenny Pen.

The facts

• Directed by James Ashcroft (Coming Home in the Dark)
• Stars John Lithgow (Conclave), Geoffrey Rush (The King’s Speech), Nathaniel Lees (Sione’s Wedding), Thomas Sainsbury (Loop Track), Anapela Polataivao (Tinā)
• English language
• Runtime: 105 minutes
• Filmed in Wellington, Taupō and Lower Hutt, New Zealand
• Based on Owen Marshall’s short story by the same name

Why did it get this rating?

This film was classified by Te Mana Whakaatu, Classification Office. You can find out more about classification process and ratings here.

Sexual violence

This film has several instances of sexual violence which may be upsetting for some viewers.

• One character sexually assaults another character with a puppet.
• A character starts undressing an older woman who is helpless to stop it.
• A character makes a joke about a chaplain sexually assaulting a man when he was a child.

Cruelty 

There is regular abuse of elderly people. While the violence and abuse are not detailed it is cruel. The strongest scenes include:

• A character manipulates an elderly character outside at night, where they drown in a muddy creek.
• Two men wrestle with and then suffocate a third man to death.
• A character chokes an elderly character in bed.
• A character violently rips a catheter out of another character.

Offensive language

Offensive language is used in casual manner or in frustration. A single use of ‘c*nt’ as an insult. Other offensive language includes ‘f*ck’, ‘sh*t’, ‘bloody’, ‘bastard’, ‘a**hole’ and ‘wanker’. A character makes a series of discriminatory jokes about Māori.

Suicide references

Two characters have a conversation about Ernest Hemingway dying by suicide. One makes a comment encouraging the other to follow in his footsteps.

Helplines:

The sexual violence and cruelty could be upsetting for some viewers, especially for those who have gone through similar experiences. If you are struggling with what you have seen on-screen or real-world harm please reach out for help. If you or someone you know needs to talk:

• Safe to talk
• Women’s Refuge
• 1737
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?