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Good Times, Wonderful Times

Name: Good Times, Wonderful Times
Director: Lionel Rogosin
Released: 1966
Duration: 70 min

Representation Score

6.2/10

Good

1966

Director

Lionel Rogosin

Runtime

70 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Lionel Rogosin’s documentary stands out as a powerful counter-narrative to traditional war films. By contrasting the chatter of high-society London with global atrocities, the film critiques the involvement of Western institutions in systemic violence. The film shines in its global perspective, using international archives to provide a decolonized view. This approach ensures that the victims of fascism and war are seen through a multi-ethnic lens rather than a singular Anglo-Saxon narrative. However, the film's focus on broad geopolitical structures means it lacks specific representation for individual identities, such as LGBTQ+ characters or detailed portrayals of disability.

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Category Breakdown

Does Good Times, Wonderful Times have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film doesn't include explicit LGBTQ+ character stories or diverse gender identities. Instead, it focuses on broader societal issues like war and fascism rather than individual queer experiences.

How does Good Times, Wonderful Times portray gender?

Fair

The film uses a cocktail party to criticize the exclusive social spaces of the elite. While it disrupts social hierarchies, there isn't clear evidence of strong roles for women in the narrative.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Good Times, Wonderful Times?

Excellent

By using footage from twelve different countries, the film offers a global, multi-ethnic viewpoint. This approach shifts the focus away from a Western-centric view of history.

How does Good Times, Wonderful Times represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film challenges Western statecraft and patriotism through critiques of capitalism and social stability. It promotes a secular humanism that prioritizes human life over nationalism.

Does Good Times, Wonderful Times include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no indication of how individual disabilities or neurodivergent experiences are portrayed in the archival footage or the London social scenes.

Present on Screen

Provides a global, multi-ethnic perspective by using archival footage from twelve different countries.
Challenges Western-centric historical narratives by focusing on the victims of fascism and war.
Critiques the disconnect between elite social stability and global systemic suffering effectively.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation or character arcs for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Does not provide specific evidence of strong roles or representation for women.
Does not focus on disability or neurodivergent experiences.

Official Synopsis

Lionel Rogosin's plea for humanity and against war and fascism. For two years, Rogosin traveled to twelve countries to collect footage of war atrocities from their archives. He interspersed these harrowing images with scenes of a London cocktail party's mundane chatter. Good Times, Wonderful Times was released in 1964 at the height of the Vietnam War, and became one of the great anti-war films of the era.

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