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Grandma's Encyclopaedia

Name: Grandma's Encyclopaedia
Director: Walerian Borowczyk
Released: 1965
Duration: 7 min

Representation Score

5.1/10

Fair

1965

Director

Walerian Borowczyk

Runtime

7 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Walerian Borowczyk’s short is a formalist experiment that prioritizes the study of objects over social drama. By focusing on the mechanics of automobiles, balloons, and railways, the film avoids traditional character-driven metrics of identity and ability to act. While the work lacks human subjects to represent specific social groups, it remains progressive in its rejection of standard pedagogical frameworks. It functions as a deconstruction of the encyclopedic format rather than a study of human diversity. Ultimately, the film's neutrality stems from its avant-garde, non-linear structure. It trades conventional social commentary for an exploration of movement and industrial concepts.

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Category Breakdown

Does Grandma's Encyclopaedia have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film's abstract and surrealist nature prevents direct depiction of sexual orientation. Without character interactions, the film remains neutral on LGBTQ issues.

How does Grandma's Encyclopaedia portray gender?

Fair

The focus on mechanical and technological subjects means there are no gendered character arcs or subversions of traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Grandma's Encyclopaedia?

Fair

The emphasis on inanimate objects and conceptual movements means there is no basis for evaluating ethnic representation. The lack of human characters results in a neutral score.

How does Grandma's Encyclopaedia represent religion and culture?

Good

The film breaks from traditional Western narratives through a fragmented, surrealist format. It challenges authoritative, linear presentations of knowledge and education.

Does Grandma's Encyclopaedia include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no characters or themes related to physical or neurodivergent experiences in the film.

Present on Screen

Breaks from traditional Western narrative structures through a fragmented, surrealist lens.
Deconstructs standard pedagogical frameworks, challenging authoritative, linear presentations of knowledge.
Avoids reliance on conventional, gendered social hierarchies.

Limited or Absent

Lacks human characters, making it difficult to represent specific racial or ethnic identities.
Does not provide a platform for exploring gendered power dynamics or identity-based storytelling.
Does not engage with themes related to physical or neurodivergent experiences.

Official Synopsis

A short film by Walerian Borowczyk. This first volume looks at the first three letters in Grandma's encyclopaedia: A for 'Automobile', B for 'Ballon', and C for 'Chemin de fer'.

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