You are here:

Semmelweis

Name: Semmelweis
Director: Lajos Koltai
Released: 2023
Duration: 127 min

Representation Score

5.6/10

Fair

2023

Director

Lajos Koltai

Runtime

127 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Semmelweis functions as a traditional historical biography centered on a single male figure. The film prioritizes the scientific struggle of a passionate doctor against a rigid medical establishment in 19th-century Vienna. The narrative structure aligns with conventional historical storytelling rather than a deliberate attempt to disrupt modern social hierarchies. It reflects the demographic and social constraints of its period, focusing on individual merit and institutional conflict. While the film explores the tension between authority and discovery, it lacks explicit representation of diverse social groups.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Semmelweis have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film focuses on the medical and scientific struggles of Ignác Semmelweis in a 19th-century clinical setting. There are no LGBTQ+ characters or narratives exploring non-straight relationships.

How does Semmelweis portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on a male protagonist navigating a male-dominated medical hierarchy. Women play key roles as patients, but the ability to act remains with the male physician.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Semmelweis?

Limited

Set in 19th-century Vienna, the film likely reflects the relatively homogeneous European social structure of the time. There is no evidence of a multi-ethnic cast or race-bent casting.

How does Semmelweis represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative highlights the tension between scientific discovery and established institutional authority. It follows a traditional historical drama framework focused on scientific progress.

Does Semmelweis include disability representation?

Fair

There is no indication that neurodivergence or physical disability is portrayed with independent ability to act. Disability may only appear as a symptom of the puerperal fever epidemic.

Present on Screen

The film provides a nuanced look at the tension between scientific discovery and rigid institutional authority.
It offers a focused historical exploration of the medical challenges faced during the 19th-century epidemic.

Limited or Absent

The narrative centers heavily on a male protagonist, limiting the ability to act of female characters to patients or subjects.
The film lacks visible representation of LGBTQ+ identities or diverse racial and ethnic ensembles.
There is no evidence of characters with disabilities possessing independent ability to act or central character arcs.

Official Synopsis

Set in 19th century Vienna, Ignac Semmelweis, a short-tempered but passionate doctor, delivers babies and carries out autopsies on a daily basis while looking for the cause of puerperal fever, the mysterious epidemic that decimates patients in the hospital.

How are these scores produced? →