CODE 46

MPAA Rating: R

Entertainment: +1

Content: -2 1/2

In the near future, Code 46 is a portrayal of a divided society where peoples lives are predetermined. Those with the right DNA who marry someone else with the right DNA live in the city and have the benefits of good homes, health care and jobs. Those who do not have the right DNA live in the desert wilderness. People often seek illegal cover in order to improve their lot in life. William Geld (Tim Robbins), a cunning fraud investigator, seeks out violators of Code 46 in Shanghai and brings them to justice. He is on a case involving a company that makes papelles computer chips that serve as passports. Maria Gonzales (Samantha Morton) works for this company and becomes a suspect in the illegal distribution of these papelles to Code 46 violators. During his investigation, William is drawn to and falls in love with Maria. He chooses not to blow her cover. Through a series of events, both become violators of Code 46.

This apparent low-budget sci-fi movie is devoid of a plot or any dialog of depth or significance. The first hour of the film is needed to learn the meanings of the made-up words. More important to Previe readers is the stance that the film takes on the sanctity of human life. In this futuristic society, people must receive permission from the government before they can procreate. If their DNA does not match and a child is conceived, the parents are in violation of Code 46, and the unborn child is terminated. In a shameful act of unfaithfulness to his wife and son, William has sex with Maria who then becomes pregnant. The illegal unborn fetus is discovered and terminated along with all of Marias memories of William. The gratuitous sexual themes, one encounter that includes brief frontal nudity and the moral offense to the unborn make Code 46 a violation of Previews acceptability code.

Preview Reviewer: Brian Hughes
Distributor: United Artists

Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.

Crude Language: Once (1) mild (damn 1)

Obscene Language: None

Profanity: None

Violence: Few times moderate (it is mentioned, not shown, that a man bled to death)

Sex: Several times mild (caressing and heavy kissing between married man and another woman, several bed scenes between married man and another woman, several bed scenes with a married couple); moderate (implied intercourse as womans face is shown with heavy breathing and man laying on top of a woman, brief sex scene with full frontal nudity); strong (woman handcuffed to bed tells man to make her have sex with him)

Nudity: Several times mild (woman sits on toilet while man is in close proximity sitting and singing with her, man and woman remove some of each others clothing, woman in underwear, uncovered female thigh several times, man and woman in the shower together with nothing shown); strong (womans pubic area briefly shown)

Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: Several times mild (woman talks about being turned on by freckles, man is nice to a woman in order to get a sexual reward, woman tells man that she wants to make love to him); strong (frank sexual comments)

Drugs: Several times mild (smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol); moderate (a propel computer chips, which identify individuals as belonging inside or outside the city, are trafficked much like drugs would be); strong (use of a pill called a virus that is mood altering and can help a person learn a foreign language)

Other: Appropriate use of Gods name (God bless you) three times; man has what he calls premonitions he reads peoples minds and feels what people are thinking and considers this ability to be a gift; a terminated pregnancy is portrayed

Running Time: 92 minutes
Intended Audience: Adults

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