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Please Stand By

Please Stand By

2018

PG-13

Director

Ben Lewin

Runtime

93 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

A young autistic woman runs away from her caregiver in order to boldly go and deliver her 500-page Star Trek script to a writing competition in Hollywood. On an adventure full of laughter and tears, Wendy follows the guiding spirit of Mr. Spock on her journey into the unknown.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.7/10

Fair


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

Gender Representation

Good

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

Disability Representation

Excellent

Strengths

  • The film provides a powerful, agency-driven portrayal of autism that avoids the 'inspiration porn' trope.
  • Wendy is depicted as an intellectually autonomous protagonist rather than a character defined by her relationships to men.
  • The narrative successfully centers a neurodivergent perspective as a valid way of navigating the world.

Areas for Improvement

  • The film lacks significant racial and ethnic diversity within its cast and setting.
  • There is a notable absence of LGBTQ+ representation or queer-coded narratives.
  • The story does not explore intersectional identities, remaining within a conventional social landscape.

AI Analysis

Please Stand By succeeds primarily through its authentic portrayal of neurodiversity. By centering the narrative on Wendy's specific cognitive framework and sensory experiences, the film avoids common tropes, instead presenting autism as a source of agency and intellectual strength. However, the film lacks significant intersectional depth. The racial and LGBTQ+ representations are minimal, reflecting a conventional social landscape that does not actively challenge demographic or heteronormative norms. While the protagonist's gendered agency is a strength, the film's overall impact is concentrated heavily within the realm of disability representation, leaving other diversity metrics relatively underserved.

How are these scores produced? →

Featured in

  • Best Disability Representation in Film
  • Disability Representation in Drama

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No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 4.7 out of 10

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