WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS
Beautifully filmed moral drama, reserved for discerning adults.
Should You Watch It?
WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS is a serious, morally focused drama with a strong cast and beautifully composed images. Its central concern is clear: people without power deserve compassion, empathy, medical care, and justice. Mark Rylance gives the magistrate dignity, while Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson fully inhabit their villainous roles.
The cost is significant. Soldiers physically abuse and murder prisoners, and the film depicts blood. There is also one “f” word, implied fornication, a threatened sexual assault, and brief female nudity. The movie’s slow movement toward the magistrate’s motivations also weakens its overall quality.
If you are a discerning adult who can engage with these elements, this has real moral and artistic merit. For children and young teens, choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESIn a desert outpost belonging to an unnamed empire, a magistrate oversees a settlement where native people migrate each year. When Colonel Joll arrives and demands harsher treatment of them, the magistrate sees prisoners deprived of medical care and subjected to cruelty.
After the magistrate cares for an abused native woman, he attempts to return her to her people. His compassion brings him into direct conflict with the officers who serve the empire.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is a worthwhile but imperfect drama. The cast is a major strength. Mark Rylance makes a convincing magistrate who speaks for compassion and empathy, while Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson perform their villainous roles effectively.
The images are beautifully composed and photographed. Vivid colors and stunning scenic shots of the open horizon add to the story’s atmosphere. However, the movie feels slow in getting to the bottom of the magistrate’s motivations, which hurts the overall quality.
The Worldview
WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS presents a strong moral worldview. It sympathizes with a jailed magistrate who promotes compassion, empathy, and justice for the native people under his care. The film condemns the physical abuse of people who lack power and gives moral weight to caring for the wounded.
The source review also identifies positive Christian elements, including washing others’ feet and one mention of prayer. The film’s moral center is care for the hurt and bold support for justice. The source does not describe a specific distortion or removal of these values beyond the empire’s cruel treatment of the native people.
The film’s compassion echoes Christ’s call to serve others: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Dominant moral worldview where the protagonist has compassion for those who don’t have power, care for the hurt and boldly supports justice, plus there are some positive Christian elements such as washing others people’s feet and one mention of prayer
Foul Language
One “f” word and no profanities
Violence
Strong and light violence includes guns depicted but never used, soldiers literally string together prisoners through their cheeks with wire and blood is shown, characters including a small female child beat prisoners up with a large stick, man hung by his arms by a tree with rope, conversations about pain and torture, female’s whip marks shown on her back, soldiers blind a woman with a hot fork, but it’s not shown, soldiers murder defenseless prisoners while they’re in jail
Sex
Implied fornication between an unmarried couple, and two soldiers appear next to an overweight woman as if they’re going to sexually abuse her, but they are stopped
Nudity
Upper female nudity when woman wears a see-through kimono, partial rear nudity when woman’s bare back is shown, and upper male nudity in a few scenes
Alcohol Use
Alcohol depicted during a meal
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Brief gossip about a man’s personal life.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The magistrate responds to abused and powerless people with compassion. What does it look like to care for someone who cannot repay you?
Luke 10:33–37 · Philippians 2:3–4The film shows people being harmed by those with authority. How does Scripture describe the responsibilities of rulers and those entrusted with power?
Romans 13:3–4 · Micah 6:8Washing another person’s feet is presented as an act of care. How can your family practice humble service this week?
John 13:14–15 · Galatians 5:13Why does justice require more than simply noticing that someone is being mistreated?
Isaiah 1:17 · Proverbs 31:8–9The Final Word
WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS is beautifully made and morally serious, with excellent performances and a clear concern for compassion and justice. Its violence, blood, profanity, sexual threat, and nudity make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, our answer is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For other family options, see.
