Come, Come, Come Upward
1989
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Representation score: 5.6 out of 10
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Mandala
Representation Score
2.9/10
Limited
1981
Director
Im Kwon-taek
Runtime
111 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetNew Showbiz Analysis
Mandala stands out as a culturally significant film that rejects Western-centric storytelling by focusing on South Korean identity and Buddhist philosophy. However, the film's social composition remains traditional, with a male-dominated spiritual journey that excludes women and LGBTQ+ representation. The film's strength lies in its deep cultural and philosophical roots, while its areas for improvement include a lack of gender diversity and representation of LGBTQ+ identities.
Category Breakdown
Does Mandala have LGBTQ+ representation?
The film focuses solely on the spiritual journeys of two male characters, with no clear LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight relationships present.
How does Mandala portray gender?
Women are largely excluded from the film, which emphasizes male spiritual leadership and limits female involvement to a male-dominated domain.
How racially and ethnically diverse is Mandala?
The film highlights Korean culture through its predominantly Korean cast and settings, avoiding a Western-centric perspective.
How does Mandala represent religion and culture?
The story uses Buddhist philosophy to critique modern capitalist society and urban life, presenting traditional social structures as forms of spiritual bondage.
Does Mandala include disability representation?
The film does not prominently feature characters with physical or cognitive disabilities.
Present on Screen
- Strong cultural specificity that avoids a Western-centric viewpoint.
- Effective critique of capitalist materialism and modern societal pressures.
- Deep engagement with indigenous South Korean spiritual and philosophical traditions.
Limited or Absent
- Lack of female characters and gender diversity.
- Absence of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight relationships.
- Reinforcement of a patriarchal structure regarding spiritual leadership.
Official Synopsis
A story that follows the lives and interactions of two Buddhist monks living in South Korea.
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