Parents' Guide to

The Road Dance

By Kat Halstead, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Sweeping Scottish drama has sexual assault, suicide.

Movie NR 2023 116 minutes
The Road Dance movie poster: A young woman stands in a purple dress, holding flowers, with coastal scenes in the background

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • The Road Dance: A young woman stands looking over her shoulder, holing a bunch of flowers outside a cottage door
  • The Road Dance: A young woman dances in a white dress, surrounded by other villagers dancing in the open air
  • The Road Dance: A young woman stands in a light blue coat on the coastline, the sea stretching out behind her

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What's the Story?

In THE ROAD DANCE, teenager Kirsty (Hermione Corfield) lives in a small, religious community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland in the early 20th century. She and her boyfriend, Murdo (Will Fletcher), have dreams of escaping the humdrum for an exciting new start in the United States. But, when he and the other young men of the village are conscripted to war, a celebration to mark their leaving leads to violence, secrets, and tragedy.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Introduced by pipe music and sweeping, rugged landscapes, and focusing in on a remote religious community, this drama "inspired by true events" threatens to be a generic and decidedly earnest affair. However, what unfolds in The Road Dance is an engaging, beautifully filmed, and intimately acted tale of trauma, grief, resilience, and hope. In the central role, Corfield is one to watch, giving a quietly powerful performance as Kirsty, while Mark Gatiss as the village doctor, Fletcher as Murdo, and Morven Christie as Kirsty's mother also deserve a mention. It's a subtle but impactful film, showing the power of women to gather round in crisis amid the shaky foundations of a religious, patriarchal community, which will likely satisfy fans of John MacKay's bestselling novel.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how gender was portrayed in The Road Dance. What did it say about its small community, and the wider beliefs and expectations of society in the early 20th century?

  • Kirsty showed courage, integrity, and perseverance. Why are these important character strengths? Can you think of times you've shown any of them in your life?

  • Discuss the movie's violence. Did the violent scenes help tell the story in an effective way? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?

  • What do you know about World War I? Did you learn anything new about it from this film? How to talk to kids about violence, crime, and war.

  • The movie was based on a book. Have you read the novel and, if so, how do the two compare? What do you think are some of the challenges in adaptation? Can you think of any successful or unsuccessful adaptations, and how do they compare?

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