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An Ideal Husband

Name: An Ideal Husband
Director: Oliver Parker
Released: 1999
Duration: 97 min

Representation Score

1.6/10

Minimal

1999

PG-13

Director

Oliver Parker

Runtime

97 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

An Ideal Husband functions as a period-accurate reconstruction of Victorian high society. It prioritizes the preservation of traditional hierarchies and the complexities of class-based reputation over modern social deconstruction. The film offers a sophisticated critique of political corruption and the transactional nature of morality. However, this critique does not disrupt the established demographic or gendered power structures of the era. Ultimately, the film's lack of multi-layered representation stems from its adherence to the historical context of the source material.

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Category Breakdown

Does An Ideal Husband have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film strictly follows the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender. There are no depictions of non-binary gender identities or same-sex relationships.

How does An Ideal Husband portray gender?

Fair

The plot is driven by male political influence, leaving women in reactive roles. Female characters provide intellectual friction but primarily serve as arbiters of respectability.

How racially and ethnically diverse is An Ideal Husband?

Minimal

The cast is predominantly white and Anglo-Saxon, reflecting the historical setting. It lacks actors of diverse backgrounds in central power dynamics.

How does An Ideal Husband represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story explores moral relativism and the gray areas of ethics. However, it remains deeply embedded in Western institutional frameworks and social contracts.

Does An Ideal Husband include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no visible or invisible disabilities central to the narrative arc or character descriptions.

Present on Screen

Provides a sophisticated critique of political corruption and Victorian morality.
Offers intellectual complexity through the friction between female leads.
Accurately reconstructs the social artifice of the late 19th century.

Limited or Absent

Lacks any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-binary gender characters.
Maintains a homogeneous, predominantly white and Anglo-Saxon cast.
Positions female characters as reactive to male reputation rather than independent agents.

Official Synopsis

Sir Robert Chiltern is a successful government minister, well-off and with a loving wife. All this is threatened when Mrs Cheveley appears in London with damning evidence of a past misdeed. Sir Robert turns for help to his friend Lord Goring, an apparently idle philanderer and the despair of his father. Goring knows the lady of old, and, for him, takes the whole thing pretty seriously.

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