You are here:

Rip Tide

Name: Rip Tide
Director: Rhiannon Bannenberg
Released: 2017
Duration: 85 min

Representation Score

4.2/10

Fair

2017

Director

Rhiannon Bannenberg

Runtime

85 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Rip Tide is a character-driven coming-of-age drama that emphasizes individual emotional landscapes over sociopolitical critique. The story centers on Cora's internal journey as she navigates displacement and personal trauma in a new environment. While the film offers a meaningful space for the female protagonist's emotional and intellectual development, it operates within a traditional dramatic framework. It lacks the diverse casting and multi-layered complexity needed for a more progressive representation. Ultimately, the film adheres to traditional narrative boundaries, focusing on the individual's growth rather than addressing systemic or collective social issues.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Rip Tide have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. Romantic and social dynamics follow traditional patterns centered around straight relationships.

How does Rip Tide portray gender?

Fair

The narrative centers on the emotional and intellectual journey of a female protagonist. It avoids making the female lead a secondary character to a male figure.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Rip Tide?

Limited

Set in a coastal Australian town, the film features a predominantly white, Anglo-Saxon cast. It does not reflect a multicultural or post-colonial demographic.

How does Rip Tide represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story focuses on family connections and personal healing. It does not critique Western institutions or cultural norms.

Does Rip Tide include disability representation?

Fair

The film touches upon mental health and emotional trauma through the protagonist. It focuses on personal healing rather than a systemic critique of societal treatment of disabilities.

Present on Screen

The film centers on the emotional and intellectual journey of its female protagonist.
It provides a nuanced look at the female protagonist's interiority and personal struggles.

Limited or Absent

The cast lacks racial and ethnic diversity, featuring a primarily white, Anglo-Saxon demographic.
There is a lack of LGBTQ+ representation or narratives that challenge traditional assumptions about relationships.
The film misses opportunities to engage with multi-layered identity politics or systemic social critiques.

Official Synopsis

There comes a point in everyone’s life when you have to make a decision about the direction you’re going to take. For newly-18 American fashion model Cora, that time is now. She’s moved to an Australian coastal town to be with her favourite aunt, after a 'fashion faux pas’ back home.

How are these scores produced? →