You are here:

Friendsgiving

Name: Friendsgiving
Director: Nicol Paone
Released: 2020
Duration: 95 min

Representation Score

5.3/10

Fair

2020

Director

Nicol Paone

Runtime

95 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Friendsgiving stands out from typical holiday comedies by focusing on women's ability to drive the story and the complexities of female-led domestic life. By showcasing a group of women navigating divorce and friendship, the film moves away from traditional patriarchal structures. The inclusion of LGBTQ+ identities is handled with emotional depth, treating Abby's identity as a meaningful part of the central arc rather than a peripheral detail. However, the film's impact is limited by a lack of racial and ethnic diversity, which prevents it from challenging broader social norms or offering a more diverse cultural perspective.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Friendsgiving have LGBTQ+ representation?

Good

Abby is a key character whose recent breakup and lesbian identity are integral to the film's emotional journey. This portrayal challenges typical holiday narratives by highlighting non-straight relationships within the main social circle.

How does Friendsgiving portray gender?

Good

The film centers around women's ability to drive the story, emphasizing the intellect and emotional labor of female characters. It portrays female autonomy as the primary driver of the plot, subverting traditional patriarchal structures.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Friendsgiving?

Limited

The film features a relatively homogeneous, middle-class demographic without significant racial blending or color-blind casting. This results in a depiction that aligns closely with conventional Western cinematic standards.

How does Friendsgiving represent religion and culture?

Good

The story deconstructs the idealized family unit by presenting the holiday as chaotic and dysfunctional. It replaces the 'perfect' family cliché with a messy, nuanced reality centered on divorce and social friction.

Does Friendsgiving include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent or verified depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities that drive the narrative. The film focuses instead on emotional states related to interpersonal conflict.

Present on Screen

Subverts traditional gender hierarchies through a strong female-led ensemble.
Integrates LGBTQ+ identities into the central emotional narrative.
Deconstructs the idealized 'perfect' family unit during holiday settings.

Limited or Absent

Lacks racial and ethnic diversity among the characters.
Minimal representation of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
No systemic critique or broader cultural diversity beyond the domestic sphere.

Official Synopsis

Newly-divorced actress Molly, her recently-dumped lesbian best friend Abby and Molly’s mother Helen host a dysfunctional, comical and chaotic Thanksgiving dinner for their motley crew of close friends and strange acquaintances.

How are these scores produced? →