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The Blacks

Name: The Blacks
Director: Goran Dević, Zvonimir Jurić
Released: 2009
Duration: 75 min

Representation Score

4.5/10

Fair

2009

Director

Goran Dević, Zvonimir Jurić

Runtime

75 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film shifts away from traditional heroic war narratives to focus on psychological realism and moral inquiry. It prioritizes the deconstruction of nationalistic myths through character-driven conflict. While the work lacks overt demographic diversity regarding gender and LGBTQ+ visibility, it offers significant progressive value through its cultural complexity. The focus on internal struggle provides a sophisticated view of the human condition. Ultimately, the film succeeds by avoiding simplistic heroism, opting instead to explore systemic pressures and moral relativism in wartime environments.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Blacks have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The story centers around a male-dominated military squad dealing with the psychological impact of siege warfare. There are no explicit LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight relationships in the narrative.

How does The Blacks portray gender?

Fair

The story structure is focused on a male-led hierarchy with Ivo as the squad commander. The lack of women's ability to drive the story indicates a traditional gendered setting typical of war dramas.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Blacks?

Fair

The title might symbolize the morally compromised nature of the unit rather than referring to literal racial identity. It hints at exploring social outcasts and internal hierarchies.

How does The Blacks represent religion and culture?

Good

The film breaks war cinema clichés by presenting the enemy as an internal psychological struggle. It questions simplistic patriotic morality by highlighting characters' personal doubts and guilt.

Does The Blacks include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no clear depiction of physical or neurodivergent disabilities in the film.

Present on Screen

Focuses on internal psychological struggles rather than external combat, challenging traditional war clichés.
Offers a sophisticated critique of simplistic, state-sanctioned patriotic morality.
Explores complex themes of guilt, doubt, and the human condition under systemic pressure.

Limited or Absent

Lacks visible LGBTQ+ representation or non-straight relationships.
Features a male-centric hierarchy with a notable absence of women's ability to drive the story.
Does not provide evidence of racial or ethnic diversity beyond potential metaphorical interpretations.

Official Synopsis

War. A city under the siege. The truce has been recently signed, and the squad known as the 'Blacks', who used to do the dirty jobs, needs to be disbanded. Ivo, the squad commander who has lost three of his soldiers, prepares the action to retrieve their dead bodies from the forest and, despite the ceasefire, blow up the dam, thus causing a great damage to the enemy: The survived members of the squad, tortured by their personal doubts and guilt, move into action. On the battlefield, they find the enemy they are searching for is in the place they least expect - inside themselves.

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