Young Washington

Currently only in theaters

Runtime: 2 Hours 5 Minutes

Rated PG-13

Set during the French and Indian War, Young Washington follows George Washington in his early twenties as he dreams of earning a commission in the British Army. Dismissed and looked down upon because he is a colonial Virginian, Washington refuses to let rejection define him. When the British military needs local support and someone to shoulder the blame if things go wrong, he is given the chance to serve as a volunteer officer leading a small Virginia force. Through dangerous expeditions, brutal skirmishes, losing, and hard-fought battles, the young leader begins forging the character, courage, and resilience that will one day shape the future of a nation. His remarkable journey culminates in the historic Battle of the Monongahela.

Themes:‍ ‍

‍ America, the French and Indian War, the colonies, Native Americans, loss, stubbornness, persistence, military, the British, the French, volunteers, romance, the Ohio territory, respect, Virginia, writing, prospecting, orders, militia, belief, leading, loyalty, endurance, keeping one’s word, and adapting.

Language:‍ ‍

B*stard - 1 D*mn - 2

“Praise God” and “God help us” are both used.

Stuff to be aware of:‍ ‍

‍ ‍Alcohol - Rum is discussed, and there is a scene in a tavern where patrons are drinking.

‍ ‍Scary - There is a scene in which Native Americans are following a caravan. They hide amongst the trees.

There are multiple intense battle scenes.

‍ ‍Sexual - A man and a woman share a kiss.

‍ ‍Violence/Gore - There are multiple battle scenes in which people are killed, and dead bodies can be seen on the ground. These scenes are not very graphic, but they are intense.

• During some of the battles, there are medics wrapping up and taking care of people. There is one person using a small hand saw, but what is being cut cannot be seen on screen.

• A man who is sick coughs into a bloody handkerchief.

• A man talks about people boiling his father and eating him. None of this is seen, but it is just briefly spoken about.

• During some battle scenes, Native Americans kill people with small hand axes.

• One Native American kills a man by hacking him with an axe over and over again. This scene is filmed from behind the Native American attacking the man. Nothing graphic is seen, you just see the axe raised and over and over again.

• A man is said to have fallen from his horse and broken his neck.

• A man sitting on a horse talking is shot from behind and falls off the horse.

• Multiple battle scenes depict dead soldiers lying on the ground.

• Some battle scenes show characters with blood on their face.

‍ ‍Other - Slavery and slaves are mentioned in conversation. There are a couple of scenes with slaves. One scene is brief and takes place in a kitchen. There are also two slaves who fight in a battle in place of their owners.

Overall:‍ ‍

Seeing It With Your Family

We took our daughters to see this movie as part of our American history homeschool journey. At ages 12 and 14, they handled it well. Younger viewers may find some moments a bit intense, particularly during the battle scenes. While the combat is exciting and occasionally brutal, it's not significantly more intense than what audiences have seen in The Lord of the Rings films or many modern superhero movies.

What I Thought

I can't speak with authority about the film's historical accuracy, but based on my limited knowledge of George Washington's early life and the French and Indian War, it appears to capture the spirit of the era well. More importantly, it tells a compelling story. I found myself rooting for Washington's determination and perseverance from beginning to end. When he stumbles and suffers defeat, you genuinely feel for him. When he learns from those failures and presses forward with even greater resolve, it's hard not to cheer.

The film carries a strong sense of national pride without pretending America's past was flawless. It doesn't ignore the reality of slavery, even though it isn't a central focus of the story. Slaves appear in a few scenes, and the casual way they are discussed, whether being sent into battle in place of their owners or given away as property, quietly reminds viewers of the injustice woven into that period of history.

Overall, Young Washington feels like an origin story for a superhero. While veteran actors like Andy Serkis, Ben Kingsley, and Kelsey Grammer have smaller supporting roles, newcomer William Franklyn-Miller carries the film with confidence. He portrays a young George Washington as a man defined by determination, humility, loyalty, honor, and a willingness to learn from failure. Qualities that foreshadow the leader who would one day become America's first president. William Franklyn-Miller isn’t without his acting flaws, but I see his potential of becoming a great actor.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and think history buffs, a well as fans of inspiring true stories, will too.