What age is Poly appropriate for?

11 alone, 10 with a parent; 11 in France. The whole movie, watched in full: what's in it, and how to talk about it with your child.

Why is Poly not recommended under 11?

What's in it: an animal treated badly; a villain who really scares; salty words, a few insults; grief in the background; adults smoke and drink. The detail, fact by fact, is in the zinema guide, which reads the work itself (images, sound, dialogue).

zinema · movies · what age

Poly: what age is it for? 11 alone, 10 with a parent

11 alone, 10 with a parent.

Movie · 2020 · 1 h 42 · family, adventure

YRS

The trailer

Alone, or with you

678910111213141516

not yetwith an adult, or to talk about afteralone

Alone from 11; from 10, with an adult or by talking about it afterwards.

In France, zinema would say 11.

Watch the trailerContinue in zinemathen where to watch it, in zinema · more trailers, and where to watch films · Where to stream itWhere to watch

What it's about

The adventures of Shetland pony Poly in the South of France.

Why 11

An animal treated badlyThe heart of the story is a pony mistreated behind the scenes of a traveling circus. The abuse is mostly talked about and suggested rather than shown, but it comes back again and again, and it is what pushes the little girl to act. Sensitive animal lovers around 7 or 8 may need a hand to hold, and a word afterward that the pony is safe.
said
A villain who really scaresThe circus director is filmed as a genuine threat: raised voices, growls, chases, a few scuffles and moments where weapons are brandished to frighten. It stays within family adventure territory, no gore, but the tension is real for a while and several sequences happen at night or in the dark.
shown
Salty words, a few insultsAbout a dozen coarse words across the film, plus name calling between kids and adults (idiot, coward, shut your mouth). Nothing crude, but expect a couple of expressions your child may repeat.
shown
Grief in the backgroundA death in the family is spoken about several times, never shown. It gives the story its weight and explains the move and the loneliness of the girl. Worth a word if your child has lost someone.
shown
Adults smoke and drinkCigarettes and wine appear in a number of grown up scenes, presented as ordinary rather than glamorous. Small children notice it more than parents expect.
shown

What the movie brings

A child who takes responsibility for a living creature and holds her ground against adults.
A gentle story about arriving somewhere new, being left out, and slowly finding your place.
A friendship built on trust rather than words.

Watching it together

Before

Before you start, you can say that the circus man is mean to the pony but that Cecile will not let him win.

After

at 11 and up

Cecile decides to protect Poly even though the grown ups tell her not to. When is it right to disobey an adult?

See the facts

Creature, monster, strong villain●●● · shownmeasured

Pace●●● · shownmeasured

A character in danger●●○ · saidmeasured

A weapon shown or used●●○ · shownmeasured

Abandonment, separation, confinement●●○ · shownmeasured

Alcohol●●○ · shownmeasured

Cruelty, torture, abuse●●○ · saidmeasured

Death of a character●●○ · saidmeasured

Fighting, brawls●●○ · shownmeasured

Frightening imagery●●○ · shownmeasured

Kissing, romantic gestures●●○ · shownmeasured

Long dark scenes, night, storm●●○ · shownmeasured

Mockery, humiliation, bullying●●○ · saidmeasured

Smoking●●○ · shownmeasured

Swearing●●○ · shownmeasured

Tense music or sound●●○ · shownmeasured

Visible injury, blood●●○ · shownmeasured

Density of dialogue●○○ · shownmeasured

Insults, hurtful words●○○ · shownmeasured

For the same age, on zinema

Les Caprices de l’Enfant Roi 12, 11 with a parent
The Mandalorian 14
Practical Magic 2 13
The Chosen 11, 10 with a parent

The latest guides

Back to the Future Part II 11, 10 with a parent
The Empire Strikes Back 11, 10 with a parent
Loups-Garous 13
Taxi 11, 10 with a parent

A zinema reading from September 7, 2026 · the whole movie, watched in full · the age by zinema's rules for the US and France, and a human reading · report an error · how this guide is made