You are here:

There Be Dragons

Name: There Be Dragons
Director: Roland Joffé
Released: 2011
Duration: 112 min

Representation Score

3.0/10

Limited

2011

PG-13

Director

Roland Joffé

Runtime

112 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

There Be Dragons functions primarily as a psychological study of colonial isolation rather than a diverse ensemble piece. The narrative structure is built around male-centric dynamics and the friction of Western structures in an African setting. While the film avoids celebrating imperial expansion, it remains limited by its focus on the European perspective. The lack of representation for LGBTQ+ identities and women's ability to drive the story keeps the diversity profile low. Ultimately, the film's value lies in its post-colonial lens. It critiques the psychological toll of maintaining Western institutions in an alien environment, providing a more complex view of empire than standard adventure clichés.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does There Be Dragons have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. It sticks closely to a traditional 19th-century social framework with no depiction of non-straight relationships.

How does There Be Dragons portray gender?

Limited

The story focuses heavily on male development and patriarchal hierarchies. It centers on the relationship between a son and an authoritative father, offering little control to female characters.

How racially and ethnically diverse is There Be Dragons?

Fair

Set in Africa, the film uses local populations as a backdrop. However, narrative control remains concentrated within the European protagonists, focusing on their psychological experiences.

How does There Be Dragons represent religion and culture?

Good

The film offers a nuanced critique of Western institutionalism. It portrays colonial administration as an isolating structure, challenging the perceived superiority of imperial projects.

Does There Be Dragons include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of visible or invisible disabilities that drive the narrative or serve as central character arcs.

Present on Screen

Provides a nuanced critique of Western institutionalism and colonial administration.
Avoids celebratory imperialist clichés by focusing on the psychological friction of the colonial project.

Limited or Absent

Offers little control to female characters within the patriarchal narrative.
Narrative control is heavily concentrated in white European protagonists, limiting ethnic depth.
Features no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight relationships.

Official Synopsis

Arising out of the horror of the Spanish Civil War, a candidate for canonization is investigated by a journalist who discovers his own estranged father had a deep, dark and devastating connection to the saint's life.While researching the life of Josemaria Escriva, the controversial founder of Opus Dei, the young journalist Robert uncovers hidden stories of his estranged father Manolo, and is taken on a journey through the dark, terrible secrets of his family’s past.

How are these scores produced? →