You are here:

The Ape Woman

Name: The Ape Woman
Director: Marco Ferreri
Released: 1964
Duration: 92 min

Representation Score

6.1/10

Good

1964

Director

Marco Ferreri

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The Ape Woman is a provocative study of objectification that uses physical differences to critique societal norms. It succeeds in deconstructing the human gaze and the commodification of identity, moving beyond simple clichés to explore existentialist themes. While the film excels at using the female lead's atypical body to critique systemic cruelty, it lacks explicit representation of multiple aspects of diversity. The absence of LGBTQ+ identities and specific racial diversity limits its broader social scope. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its refusal to provide moral comfort, instead presenting a transactional world where human beings are treated as commodities for public consumption.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Ape Woman have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or relationships that challenge the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender. The central relationship focuses on a fetishistic dynamic rather than sexual orientation.

How does The Ape Woman portray gender?

Good

The film challenges traditional gender roles by removing the female protagonist from domestic life and presenting her as a spectacle. The male lead's actions are driven by obsessive, non-traditional psychological compulsions.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Ape Woman?

Fair

The narrative does not explicitly address racial or ethnic diversity. However, it uses the female lead's physical 'otherness' to explore how society categorizes and excludes underrepresented bodies.

How does The Ape Woman represent religion and culture?

Good

The film critiques capitalist commodification by showing how individuals are transformed into entertainment. Social institutions like marriage are portrayed as hollow, transactional experiences rather than virtuous.

Does The Ape Woman include disability representation?

Good

The story provides a nuanced look at physical differences without resorting to inspirational stories. It uses the protagonist's condition to confront the cruelty of the voyeuristic gaze.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional gender roles and domestic life.
Provides a sophisticated critique of capitalist commodification.
Avoids inspirational stories when depicting physical differences.
Challenges viewers through a study of voyeurism and the gaze.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit LGBTQ+ representation or non-straight relationships.
Does not address specific racial or ethnic diversity.
Focuses on physical 'otherness' as a surrogate for, rather than a direct exploration of, racial diversity.

Official Synopsis

A modest Neapolitan man meets a young woman with excessive hairiness. He exhibits her at fairs and marries her. It is after marriage that he receives a tempting offer from a French manager.

How are these scores produced? →