Age of Consent

Age of Consent

Year: 1969

Runtime: 108 mins

Language: English

Director: Michael Powell

DramaComedyRelationship comedyErotic relationships and desireQuirky and endearing relationships

An aging artist feels his creativity has withered and believes his best days are behind him. Encouraged by his long‑time friend and agent, he travels to a remote island for a fresh start. There, the island’s vibrant atmosphere and the presence of a young woman awaken his long‑dormant muse, prompting him to rediscover his passion for art.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Age of Consent (1969)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Age of Consent (1969). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Great Barrier Reef island

A remote, sparsely inhabited island on the Great Barrier Reef off the Australian coast. A shack sits on the shore where Bradley works, surrounded by sea and wind that shape the creative mood. The wild landscape and isolation set the stage for the unlikely relationship between the artist and his young muse.

🏝️ Remote island 🌊 Ocean setting 🐚 Reef habitat

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:48

Main Characters – Age of Consent (1969)

Meet the key characters of Age of Consent (1969), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Cora Ryan (Helen Mirren)

An untamed, resourceful young woman living with her gin-loving grandmother on a remote island. She helps support herself by selling fish and occasionally stealing to pursue a dream of becoming a hairdresser in Brisbane. Her evolving relationship with Bradley awakens her, revealing agency and longing as she becomes his artistic muse.

🌿 Wild 🧭 Independent 🐚 Resourceful

Bradley Morahan (James Mason)

An accomplished artist who has become jaded by success in New York. He returns to Australia to regain his edge and finds revival in the island’s stark setting and in Cora as his muse, though his motives and boundaries become blurred. His transformation drives the film’s exploration of art, aging, and desire.

🎭 Complex 🎨 Creative 🧭 Transformative

Nat Kelly (Jack MacGowran)

A longtime freeloading friend who hides from the law over alimony. He stays with Bradley, schemes to con Cora and Isabel, and ultimately steals money and drawings. His opportunism reveals the fragility of Bradley's sanctuary and the island's precarious social code.

🗝️ Intrusive 🕵️‍♂️ Opportunistic 🌀 Chaotic

Ma Ryan (Neva Carr-Glynn)

Cora’s heavy-drinking grandmother who distrusts Bradley and accuses him of improper relations with her granddaughter. Her stubborn protectiveness helps spark the island's conflict and precipitates a fatal confrontation.

⚡ Protective 🧪 Weathered 🍷 Drunken

Isabel Marley (Andonia Katsaros)

Bradley’s neighbour who becomes entangled in the theft that unsettles island life. She represents social constraints and the everyday stakes that collide with Bradley’s artistic world.

🏘️ Neighbor 🧭 Constraint 🪙 Transactional

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:48

Major Themes – Age of Consent (1969)

Explore the central themes of Age of Consent (1969), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎨 Artistic Renewal

Bradley returns from New York determined to reclaim his edge, and the island's stark beauty rekindles his creative fire. Cora's presence as a vivid, living subject reinvigorates his art, turning sketches into scenes of real emotion. The partnership tests boundaries and reveals how inspiration can bloom from unexpected, imperfect circumstances.

🔥 Desire

A charged attraction forms between the adult artist and the wild young woman, complicating consent and moral lines. The power dynamic shifts as Bradley's ambition vies with his feelings, blurring the line between mentorship and romance. The island's isolation intensifies this tension, prompting risky choices.

⚖️ Moral Ambiguity

Bradley's actions raise questions about exploitation versus artistic freedom. Ma's accusations highlight social double standards about age, intimacy, and power. The film keeps the outcome unsettled, forcing viewers to weigh intention against impact.

🌊 Isolation

The island setting creates a cocoon that intensifies desire and invention. Bradley's retreat mirrors a search for authenticity away from urban fame. The sea, shore, and weather become catalysts for transformation in both characters.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:48

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Age of Consent Summary

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Age of Consent Summary

Age of Consent Timeline

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Age of Consent Timeline

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Age of Consent (1969) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Age of Consent (1969) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Age of Consent (1969) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow