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Work

Name: Work
Director: Souleymane Cissé
Released: 1978
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

3.8/10

Limited

1978

Director

Souleymane Cissé

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Baara is a powerful reclaiming of an indigenous Malian perspective that challenges Western-centric cinema. By focusing on an authentic Malian experience, it offers a nuanced critique of how industrial capitalism undermines traditional communal structures and cultural heritage. The film stands out in its genuine depiction of West African life and its rejection of an Anglo-Saxon viewpoint. It effectively frames morality around communal responsibility rather than Western legal frameworks. However, the narrative remains narrowly focused on male-driven ethical dilemmas. It does not explore non-traditional gender roles or non-straight-centered identities.

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Category Breakdown

Does Work have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or stories. It focuses on traditional family and community structures.

How does Work portray gender?

Fair

Women are shown primarily within domestic and communal settings. The main focus is on the male protagonist's struggles with work and social obligations.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Work?

Excellent

The film highlights a strong Malian identity and centers West African life, presenting a narrative independent of Western viewpoints.

How does Work represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The story criticizes capitalist expansion and its effect on rural life. It emphasizes the importance of community cohesion and indigenous spirituality over Western economic models.

Does Work include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no central characters with visible or invisible disabilities. Disability is not used as a plot device.

Present on Screen

Strong assertion of Malian identity and authentic setting.
Effective critique of industrial capitalism's impact on traditional agrarian life.
Successful disruption of the Western-centric gaze through indigenous storytelling.

Limited or Absent

Limited focus on female characters confined to domestic roles.
No representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight-centered narratives.
No central characters dealing with disability or diverse physical abilities.

Official Synopsis

A young manager of a factory encounters a man walking along a road who says his family traditionally are servants to the manager's family. The manager offers him a job, and as he watches out for the other man's welfare, begins to see how the company mistreats its workers. The manager is challenged between his ethics and the pressure from others to protect his own interests as dire problems surface at the factory

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