The Six Triple Eight highlights the little-known story of the Six Triple Eight battalion, the only all-woman, all-black military division stationed in Europe during World War II. Their mission was an important one—delivering millions of letters in the hope of preserving communication between soldiers and their families.
Toward the end of the war, the morale of the soldiers was at an all-time low due to not receiving mail from their families. In some cases, it had been years since the soldiers or their families had received any communication. Despite the hurdles placed in front of them, the Six Triple Eight battalion excelled in their mission and completed an impossible task in less than 90 days.
Their battle cry "No mail, low morale" was their mantra for participating in the war effort in the best way they could. Their tireless work provided a needed morale boost that allowed soldiers to push through the end of the war without giving up hope.
Why is Six Triple Eight rated PG-13?
The film is given the rating of PG-13, which I believe to be fitting due to the nature of the movie. According to Film Ratings, a PG-13 film is described as "Parents Strongly Cautioned" as the material may not be suitable for children under 13 years of age. I would further caution parents to consider the maturity level of their teens before watching the film.
Taking place during World War II, there are scenes depicting war violence in this film, including in the first scene. There is also a strong tone of racism and racial disparity present in this film, that may not be appropriate for everyone. The Holocaust and concentration camps are also mentioned, which is expected due to the time period.
If these are subjects that you do not believe your teen to be ready for, you might want to skip this film. However, if you have a teen who is a fan of history and mature enough, this film would be an excellent chance to learn about an important story from World War II.
Let's take a closer look at the content in The Six Triple Eight.
Violence: As stated above, the setting for this film takes place at the end of World War II. There are some scenes depicting war on the battlefield, as well as a scene where a mail truck is blown up by an explosive. There is a heavy sense of loss that underscores the film.
Language: One of the main characters, Johnnie Mae, is known for her use of profanity which includes "sh*t, d*mn, h*ll", etc. Please also be aware that the n-word is used in the film towards the women of the battalion.
Drinking/Drugs: One instance of the battalion hosting a party with the soldiers does include mentions of drinking, but it is not excessive. There is no drug use or mentions in this movie.
Sex/Nudity: Sex is alluded to in a few parts of the film. Breasts are also mentioned and described by one of the characters. There is no nudity or sex scenes, however.
Final overview for The Six Triple Eight: Parent's Guide
Overall, this film tells the incredible story about a group of women that I was not aware of. As a history fan, I appreciated this perspective and I think it could be valuable to share with mature teens. Trying to grasp the impact that the lack of communication had on our troops during the war creates a totally new appreciation for the means of communication we have now.
I think this film can teach kids a lot, so long as they are mature enough to tackle the subject matter.