Nine-year-old Phoebe (Elle Fanning’s breakthrough lead role) struggles with behaviors she cannot control—compulsive hand-washing, repetitive stepping rituals that bruise her ankles, and spitting on classmates when distressed. Her mother resists having her “labeled,” fearing diagnosis will limit how others see her daughter. But when Phoebe auditions for the school play and wins the role of Alice in Wonderland, she discovers something remarkable: on stage, following the rules of the script, she flourishes. The theater becomes a space where her need for ritual and repetition transforms from liability to asset. The film movingly depicts her journey to diagnosis (Tourette syndrome and OCD), which ultimately brings her peace and self-understanding rather than limitation.

Content Breakdown: Language includes strong words and the homophobic slur “faggot” spray-painted on a costume, with a teacher explaining its etymology in a scene that generated mixed critical responses. Violence consists of bullying, spitting, and self-harm behaviors—Phoebe jumps repeatedly off stairs until her ankles bruise, and later jumps from a catwalk, breaking her wrist. No sexual content. Substance use includes brief smoking and a hookah appearing in Alice-themed dream sequences. The self-harm depictions and Phoebe’s hallucinations are the primary concerns for younger viewers.

Why This Film Works for Developing Personal Power

Personal power isn’t about controlling everything—it’s about understanding yourself well enough to work with who you are rather than against it. Phoebe spends most of the film fighting her own brain, ashamed of behaviors she can’t stop, feeling powerless against impulses she doesn’t understand. Her transformation comes not from “fixing” herself but from two crucial discoveries: first, that her differences have a name (diagnosis as understanding, not limitation), and second, that the very traits causing her suffering in one context become strengths in another (the theater rewards her precision, her commitment to ritual, her ability to inhabit rules completely). The film argues that personal power comes from self-knowledge and finding environments where your authentic self can thrive—not from forcing yourself into spaces designed for someone else.

Characters to Discuss

• Phoebe: How does she experience her compulsions before and after understanding what they are? What changes when something has a name?
• Miss Dodger (Patricia Clarkson): The drama teacher sees Phoebe’s potential when others see problems. How does being truly seen by an adult affect a child’s sense of power?
• Hillary (Phoebe’s mother): She fears diagnosis will limit her daughter. Is she protecting Phoebe or preventing her from accessing help? Can both be true?
• Jamie: The gender-nonconforming boy who plays the Queen of Hearts. How does the theater give him power he lacks in the regular school environment?
• Olivia (Phoebe’s sister): She’s the “normal” one who feels invisible. What kind of power does she lack, and why?

Parent Tips for This Film

Pre-viewing conversation essential: The self-harm content (Phoebe deliberately injuring her ankles, jumping from height) requires preparation. Explain that Phoebe hurts herself because she doesn’t yet understand what’s happening in her brain—not because self-harm is a solution. Frame the diagnosis as the turning point: understanding replaces helpless repetition.

The slur scene: A costume is vandalized with “faggot” targeting Jamie. Miss Dodger explains the word’s history. Some families will find this educational; others may prefer to pause and discuss. Know your child’s readiness for this content.

Diagnosis discussion: The film treats Phoebe’s Tourette/OCD diagnosis as liberating rather than limiting. This challenges stereotypes about mental health labels. Discuss: Does knowing what something is called change what it is? How can understanding yourself give you more power, not less?

If your child is neurodivergent: This film may be deeply validating or potentially triggering, depending on their own journey. Preview it yourself first if your child has similar experiences to Phoebe’s.

Note on accuracy: Some psychologists have questioned whether Phoebe’s specific diagnosis is precisely depicted. For curriculum purposes, the emotional truth matters more than clinical precision—the film captures the experience of living with a brain that works differently and the relief of finally understanding why.

Recommendation: Suggested viewing age to 13+. Requires pre-viewing discussion about self-harm and bullying content. Best for adolescents beginning to understand neurodiversity, mental health, and the difference between “fixing” yourself and finding where you belong.