You are here:

It Was the Son

Name: It Was the Son
Director: Daniele Ciprì
Released: 2012
Duration: 90 min

2012

Director

Daniele Ciprì

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

The Ciraulo family lives in the miserable district of Palermo called "Zen". When one of their children dies in a shootout between mafia gangsters they receive compensation and buy a luxury black Volvo. Things go wrong when Trancredi, another son, takes the car out and damages the car door.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.7/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film lacks any evidence of LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. The story focuses exclusively on familial and socio-economic dynamics within a Sicilian setting.

Gender Representation

Fair

The narrative centers on patriarchal structures and male agency. While it subverts traditional notions of noble masculinity, it does not explicitly elevate female intellect or subvert gender hierarchies.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The film offers a deep study of a specific Mediterranean context. It focuses on the marginalized residents of Palermo's Zen district rather than multi-ethnic blending.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The film provides high cultural subversion by prioritizing gritty realism over traditional Christian morality. It critiques the corruption of institutions through a lens of moral relativism.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no evidence of characters with visible or invisible disabilities within the narrative.

Strengths

Strong cultural subversion that challenges traditional Christian morality and Western notions of justice.
Deeply localized and authentic portrayal of the socio-economic landscape in Palermo.
Sophisticated critique of systemic dysfunction and the intersection of crime and materialism.

Areas for Improvement

Lack of representation for LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative narratives.
Limited exploration of gender hierarchies, focusing primarily on patriarchal structures.
Minimal presence of diverse racial or multi-ethnic perspectives.

AI Analysis

Daniele Ciprì’s work functions as a sharp socio-cultural critique of Sicilian society. The film excels at deconstructing traditional moral frameworks, replacing spiritual mourning with a cynical, materialistic view of tragedy. While the film provides a sophisticated look at systemic dysfunction and social agency, it remains narrow in its identity-based representation. The focus is heavily localized and centered on patriarchal family dynamics. Ultimately, the film's value lies in its cultural subversion and its refusal to adhere to conventional narrative tropes regarding justice and order.

How are these scores produced? →