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Cheatin'

Name: Cheatin'
Director: Bill Plympton
Released: 2014
Duration: 76 min

Representation Score

6.7/10

Good

2014

TV-MA

Director

Bill Plympton

Runtime

76 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Bill Plympton’s animation prioritizes psychological surrealism and the deconstruction of romantic stability over broad demographic representation. The film excels in subverting gender hierarchies by giving the female protagonist significant influence in a transformative storyline. However, the work lacks depth in racial and LGBTQ+ representation, focusing instead on universalized archetypes. The narrative’s strength lies in its ability to challenge conventional romantic clichés through a unique, non-traditional narrative structure. Ultimately, the film explores human attachment and identity instability. It trades explicit social representation for a stylized examination of jealousy and the fragility of the human form.

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Category Breakdown

Does Cheatin' have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The story revolves around a traditional romantic relationship between Jake and Ella. The soul machine's ability to transform physically serves as a surreal exploration of identity rather than a direct focus on non-straight or non-cisgender identities.

How does Cheatin' portray gender?

Good

Ella is the main driver of the narrative rather than a passive character. The film delves into the instability of the female form and the psychological impact of romantic insecurity through a flexible portrayal of gender experiences.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Cheatin'?

Limited

The narrative emphasizes psychological and metaphysical themes rather than explicit ethnic diversity. Characters are portrayed as universalized, surrealist archetypes rather than specific racial or ethnic identities.

How does Cheatin' represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film challenges traditional romantic ideals and social norms like monogamy. Using a disgraced magician and a forbidden machine, it prioritizes moral relativism over conventional courtship structures.

Does Cheatin' include disability representation?

Fair

There are no explicit depictions of characters dealing with disabilities. The soul machine's issues and the characters' psychological instability serve as surreal metaphors rather than realistic representations of disability experiences.

Present on Screen

Subverts traditional gender roles by centering narrative ability to act on the female protagonist.
Uses surrealist elements to explore the fluidity of identity and the instability of the human form.
Challenges conventional romantic clichés through a unique, non-traditional narrative structure.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit racial and ethnic diversity within the character cast.
Provides limited representation of specific LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight and non-cisgender experiences.
Does not offer grounded or explicit depictions of disability experiences.

Official Synopsis

In a fateful bumper car collision, Jake and Ella meet and become the most loving couple in the long history of romance. But when a scheming "other" woman drives a wedge of jealousy into their perfect courtship, insecurity and hatred spell out an untimely fate. With only the help of a disgraced magician and his forbidden "soul machine", Ella takes the form of Jake's numerous lovers, desperately fighting through the malfunction and deceit as they try to reclaim their destiny.

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