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To Be

Name: To Be
Director: John Weldon
Released: 1990
Duration: 10 min

Representation Score

4.5/10

Fair

1990

Director

John Weldon

Runtime

10 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

To Be is a high-concept animated short that serves as a philosophical exploration of the self. It uses science fiction to question the traditional Western concept of a permanent, singular essence. While the film successfully challenges conventional ideas of identity through technology, it lacks demographic diversity. The narrative focuses on the existential crisis of a single scientist rather than a broad, diverse community. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its intellectual complexity rather than its social representation, emphasizing postmodern critiques of existence over identity politics.

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Category Breakdown

Does To Be have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on philosophical questions about identity rather than exploring LGBTQ+ or gender-related stories. Non-traditional gender identities are not addressed.

How does To Be portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on a scientist and the mechanics of duplication. It examines identity but does not delve into specific gender dynamics or diverse roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is To Be?

Limited

The narrative focuses on a single scientist and his duplicates. There is no indication of a diverse cast or multicultural settings in this character-driven plot.

How does To Be represent religion and culture?

Good

The film explores ethical ambiguity and situational morality, challenging the idea of a stable self through a postmodern lens.

Does To Be include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no information about characters with physical, sensory, or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional views of a stable, singular identity.
Explores sophisticated, high-concept philosophical themes.
Uses ethical ambiguity to disrupt singular, objective truths.

Limited or Absent

Lacks visible racial and ethnic diversity.
Provides no representation of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
Does not explore specific LGBTQ+ or gender-based narrative arcs.

Official Synopsis

Blending fantasy and reality, this animated short is a bold inquiry into an as yet unresolved problem - the nature of human identity. When a scientist creates a machine that can make copies of physical objects, including humans, a number of ethical questions arise. Is the technique moral? What of its safety? A film by Oscar-winning filmmaker John Weldon (who also wrote the catchy banjo tune that punctuates the story's changing moods).

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