The Insult – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Insult

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2017

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A street argument explodes into a national court case exposing the raw wounds of Lebanese-Palestinian history.

7.6/10

86%

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The Insult

movie

R, 2017

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A street argument explodes into a national court case exposing the raw wounds of Lebanese-Palestinian history.

7.6

86%

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7.6/10

86%

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Screenwise Verdict

This is serious, adult cinema that uses a personal conflict as a lens into one of the world's most painful geopolitical situations. It's not entertainment in the popcorn sense—it's work, the kind that makes you think hard about how historical wounds never really heal and how easily prejudice can erupt.

The enrichment value is real. If you're raising a teen who's ready to grapple with moral complexity and wants to understand why certain conflicts feel unsolvable, this delivers. But it requires context. You'll need to explain (or they'll need to know) the basics of the Lebanese Civil War, Palestinian displacement, and the ongoing tensions in the region.

It's well-made and critically acclaimed, but this isn't a family movie night pick unless your family is specifically interested in Middle Eastern politics and comfortable with heavy themes. For the right viewer at the right age, it's powerful. For everyone else, it's a pass.

Age Fit

This is squarely for older teens (16+) and adults who can handle intense ethnic hatred, historical trauma, and moral complexity. The geopolitical context requires maturity and background knowledge to fully appreciate.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A tense courtroom drama exploring deep-seated ethnic and religious tensions between a Lebanese Christian and Palestinian refugee. The film depicts emotional volatility, verbal abuse, and prejudice, though it ultimately attempts to model empathy by showing both perspectives. Contains references to historical atrocities and Nazi-like attitudes. The tone is heavy and confrontational rather than cooperative, though it's thematically appropriate for the subject matter.

Imaginative

Takes a simple street altercation and transforms it into a national controversy that exposes complex geopolitical wounds. The courtroom structure allows for creative storytelling as each side's backstory unfolds, revealing layers of historical trauma. It's intellectually imaginative in how it uses a personal conflict to explore broader Middle Eastern tensions, though it's not visually or stylistically inventive.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates this for ages 16+. Contains moderate profanity, descriptions of massacres, references to difficult conditions in refugee camps, and expressions of ethnic hatred that echo Nazi attitudes toward Jews. The violence is primarily verbal and psychological rather than graphic, but the intense prejudice and historical trauma discussed make this emotionally heavy and potentially triggering. Not appropriate for younger viewers who might stumble upon it.

Enriching

Exceptional at building empathy and understanding around one of the world's most intractable conflicts. Requires and rewards knowledge of Middle Eastern geopolitical history. Forces viewers to grapple with how historical trauma perpetuates cycles of hatred, and demonstrates the importance of seeing situations from multiple perspectives. The moral complexity is sophisticated—there are no easy villains or heroes. Strong critical reception (86% RT critics, 88% audience, 7.6 IMDb) confirms its impact.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Masterclass in perspective-taking—shows how historical trauma shapes present-day prejudice without picking sides
Excellent conversation starter about conflict resolution, the weight of history, and seeing humanity in your 'enemy'
Strong critical acclaim (86% RT) for its nuanced handling of an incredibly sensitive subject
Courtroom structure keeps it engaging while unpacking complex geopolitical tensions
Challenges viewers to sit with moral ambiguity rather than seeking easy answers

⚠

What to Watch For

Intense ethnic and religious prejudice expressed by characters—echoes Nazi attitudes and references to historical massacres
Requires baseline knowledge of Lebanese Civil War and Palestinian refugee experience to fully grasp the stakes
Emotionally heavy throughout—this isn't a feel-good reconciliation story
Moderate profanity and descriptions of violence (not shown graphically)
Definitely 16+ territory; younger teens will struggle with both the content and context

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think both men were so quick to escalate? What were they really fighting about?"
"How does the history of what happened to each character's community affect how they see each other today?"
"When have you held onto anger at someone, and later learned something about their story that changed how you felt?"
"Do you think the court case helped or hurt the situation? Can legal systems solve these kinds of conflicts?"
"What would it take for these two men to actually reconcile—or is that even possible?"

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