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The Call

The Call

2020

TV-MA

Director

Lee Chung-hyun

Runtime

112 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Connected by phone in the same home but 20 years apart, a caller puts a woman’s past — and life — on the line to change her own fate.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.7/10

Fair


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The narrative focuses exclusively on the temporal and psychological connection between two women. There is no explicit depiction of LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative relationship dynamics.

Gender Representation

Excellent

Female characters occupy positions of absolute agency and predatory dominance. The film avoids damsel-in-distress tropes, presenting a psychological duel driven by individual willpower rather than gendered submissiveness.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

As a South Korean production, the film features a predominantly Korean cast. It provides a culturally specific exploration of Korean domestic spaces and socioeconomic shifts over two decades.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The story explores moral relativism and situational ethics. It portrays traditional stability and the sanctity of the past as fragile elements easily corrupted by individual desire and power.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities used as central character traits or plot devices.

Strengths

  • Subverts traditional gender hierarchies by giving female characters extreme agency and intellect.
  • Avoids the 'damsel in distress' trope through a high-stakes psychological duel.
  • Offers a deep, culturally specific look at Korean domesticity and socioeconomic changes.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks any explicit depiction of LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative dynamics.
  • Maintains a homogeneous cast with minimal multi-ethnic representation.
  • Does not feature any prominent depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

AI Analysis

The Call excels at subverting gendered power dynamics by centering its conflict on two highly capable, albeit antagonistic, female protagonists. This approach replaces traditional victimhood with a complex struggle for agency and systemic disruption. However, the film remains culturally and socially narrow. It lacks any explicit LGBTQ+ representation and maintains a homogeneous Korean cast, which limits its reach beyond its specific cultural origin. Ultimately, the film is a sophisticated study of human nature and the corruption of influence, trading broad social diversity for a deep, focused exploration of psychological and temporal manipulation.

How are these scores produced? →

Featured in

  • Best Gender Representation in Film
  • Best Gender Representation of the 2020s

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