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Ugly, Dirty and Bad

Name: Ugly, Dirty and Bad
Director: Ettore Scola
Released: 1976
Duration: 115 min

Representation Score

6.1/10

Good

1976

Not Rated

Director

Ettore Scola

Runtime

115 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Ettore Scola’s film is a visceral exploration of human dignity eroding under economic hardship. It dismantles traditional family structures and bourgeois morality, presenting survival as a gritty, situational necessity rather than a moral choice. The film excels in its social critique, using the protagonist's disability and the family's scarcity to challenge institutional indifference. It avoids idealized depictions of the era, opting instead for a raw portrayal of the urban poor. However, the film remains limited by its historically homogeneous cast and lack of LGBTQ+ representation. While it provides a deep critique of systemic oppression, it does not explore diverse identities beyond the immediate, homogeneous family unit.

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Category Breakdown

Does Ugly, Dirty and Bad have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. The story centers on the biological and survival-focused ties of a single family unit.

How does Ugly, Dirty and Bad portray gender?

Good

Women navigate a harsh environment where resources are scarce, offering a nuanced look at their roles. Despite the presence of a patriarchal figure, his influence is weakened by physical limitations and extreme hoarding behavior.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Ugly, Dirty and Bad?

Limited

Set in post-WWII Rome, the film features a largely homogeneous population. It does not intentionally blend races or cast diverse characters, focusing instead on the struggles of the urban poor.

How does Ugly, Dirty and Bad represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The narrative critiques Western institutions and capitalist systems in a sophisticated manner. It portrays survivalist behaviors as necessary responses to systemic failures rather than inherent character flaws.

Does Ugly, Dirty and Bad include disability representation?

Good

The protagonist's missing eye is a central, practical reality of industrial labor. The disability drives the plot's economic tension without relying on inspirational clichés.

Present on Screen

Provides a sophisticated critique of capitalist structures and moral decay.
Integrates physical disability as a functional, gritty reality of labor.
Offers a nuanced look at women's ability to drive the story amidst socioeconomic chaos.

Limited or Absent

Lacks LGBTQ+ representation or non-straight narratives.
Features a relatively homogeneous cast with little racial or ethnic diversity.
Operates within the limited multi-layered casting of its historical era.

Official Synopsis

Giacinto lives with his wife, their ten children and various other family members in a shack on the hills of Rome. Some time ago he has lost his left eye while at work, and got a consistent sum of money from the insurance company, which he keeps hidden from the rest of the family. His whole life is now based on defending the money he sees as his own, while the rest of the family tries to kill him.

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