You are here:

Esto no es SadFace

Name: Esto no es SadFace
Director: José Salaverría
Released: 2023
Duration: 83 min

Representation Score

7.4/10

Good

2023

Director

José Salaverría

Runtime

83 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Esto no es SadFace offers a nuanced look at counter-cultural identities through the lens of rock music and personal trauma. It avoids traditional moral hierarchies, focusing instead on the gritty realities of decadence and rebellion. The film succeeds in subverting gender roles by positioning a female character as a actively leading antagonist. This provides a more complex dynamic than standard supporting roles. However, the film lacks explicit representation for LGBTQ+ identities and specific disability markers. While it explores themes of substance use, the depth of its portrayal regarding mental health remains ambiguous.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Esto no es SadFace have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not include explicit mentions of LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight relationships. The story centers around rock band dynamics and family legacies.

How does Esto no es SadFace portray gender?

Fair

While male characters drive the main plot, Asli stands out as a strong antagonist. She plays a significant role in the story, challenging traditional gender clichés by being a primary threat rather than a romantic interest.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Esto no es SadFace?

Fair

The cast and setting suggest a Latin American cultural context, moving away from Anglo-centric norms. However, the specific racial makeup of the ensemble is not explicitly detailed.

How does Esto no es SadFace represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative prioritizes secular, gritty themes like rock culture and substance abuse over traditional moral frameworks. It explores individualistic rebellion and personal trauma instead of religious structures.

Does Esto no es SadFace include disability representation?

Fair

The plot touches on the psychological weight of grief and the aftermath of an overdose. It remains unclear if these elements represent mental health struggles with real impact or serve as plot devices.

Present on Screen

Subverts gender clichés by providing Asli with a significant role as a powerful antagonist.
Explores non-traditional, secular themes and counter-cultural identities through a gritty narrative lens.
Moves away from Anglo-centric storytelling by rooting the production in a regional Latin American context.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight relationships.
Does not provide clear evidence of neurodivergence or physical disability representation.
The portrayal of substance use and its psychological effects remains potentially superficial or plot-driven.

Official Synopsis

Bruce Blanco, a decadent retired rockstar, is the founder of the legendary band SadFace. Bruce aspires to revive his days of glory. After Bob's death, a former member of the band, Bruce sees an opportunity to bring SadFace back to life when he meets Remy, Bob's son. Remy, a misfit teenager with three friends, wants to follow his father's step by becoming a rockstar himself. Bruce, Remy and his friends will struggle together to rescue the band out of oblivion, but their aspirations will be threatened by Asli, Bradley's daughter, another former member of the band who had an overdose. Asli blames Bruce for his father's death, so she will do anything to stop him from reviving SadFace.

How are these scores produced? →