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Break of Day

Name: Break of Day
Director: Jacques Demy
Released: 1980
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

5.3/10

Fair

1980

Director

Jacques Demy

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Break of Day is a character-driven study that successfully challenges age-based gender hierarchies. By centering a mature woman's intellectual and emotional life, the film provides a refreshing departure from standard romantic clichés. However, the film appears limited by its historical and geographical context. The setting suggests a lack of racial diversity, adhering to the demographic landscape of mid-20th-century Saint-Tropez. Ultimately, the film succeeds through its thematic depth. It favors the complexities of human desire and secular individualism over rigid social norms, offering a progressive perspective on personal control.

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Category Breakdown

Does Break of Day have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film explores uncertainties around desire, avoiding rigid assumptions about relationships. Jean Demy’s history of exploring non-traditional themes suggests a nuanced approach to romance.

How does Break of Day portray gender?

Good

The story centers on a mature woman in her fifties, reclaiming control often denied to older female characters. This focus disrupts traditional cinematic hierarchies that prioritize youth and male perspectives.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Break of Day?

Limited

The setting and source material suggest a focus on mid-20th-century French coastal society. The film likely reflects the historical homogeneity of that specific era and location.

How does Break of Day represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative prioritizes individual truth and subjective experience over institutional or religious morality. It emphasizes the intersection of nature and human emotion rather than traditional societal structures.

Does Break of Day include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no information available regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent identities in this film.

Present on Screen

Centers a mature female protagonist, providing real control to a demographic often sidelined in cinema.
Explores nuanced themes of desire and human connection that challenge traditional romantic clichés.
Prioritizes subjective experience and individual truth over rigid institutional or religious morality.

Limited or Absent

Likely lacks racial and ethnic diversity due to its specific historical and regional setting.
Provides no visible representation or information regarding disability or neurodivergent identities.

Official Synopsis

A writer in her fifties spends the summer in her Saint-Tropez home, tending to her garden and animals while reflecting on her past. As nature thrives around her, a handsome young man and a restless woman draw near, bringing the uncertainties of desire and romance. Adapted from Colette's quasi-autobiographical novel.

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