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The Yakuza

Name: The Yakuza
Director: Sydney Pollack
Released: 1974
Duration: 112 min

Representation Score

3.0/10

Limited

1974

Director

Sydney Pollack

Runtime

112 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Yakuza serves as a bridge between Western genre expectations and Eastern cultural specifics. It disrupts the era's tendency toward cultural homogeneity by giving significant narrative weight to its Japanese cast and social codes. However, the film remains socially traditional. It lacks progressive representation regarding gender and LGBTQ+ identities, adhering to the patriarchal structures and straight-centered norms of its time. Ultimately, the film is culturally expansive but socially conservative, balancing meaningful ethnic representation against a lack of diverse social identities.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Yakuza have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film follows conventions that assume everyone is straight or cisgender, which was common in 1970s crime cinema. It does not include any non-cisgender identities or critiques of traditional orientations.

How does The Yakuza portray gender?

Limited

The narrative focuses mainly on male characters and their actions within the Yakuza hierarchy. Female characters are mostly seen in domestic roles or as catalysts for male-driven events.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Yakuza?

Good

The film offers meaningful representation through a significant Japanese cast and setting. It avoids the white savior clichés found in many Western productions of the era by focusing on local syndicate ability to act.

How does The Yakuza represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story delves into moral relativism through the Yakuza code and cultural traditions. It presents a complex view of authority by showing the breakdown of traditional loyalty and power structures.

Does The Yakuza include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of visible or invisible disabilities that drive character roles or serve as central themes.

Present on Screen

Meaningful Japanese representation through a significant cast and setting.
Avoids the white savior cliché by centering the narrative on local syndicate ability to act.
Explores complex cultural rituals and the subjective nature of honor.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender perspectives.
Reinforces patriarchal structures by relegating female characters to secondary roles.
Relies on traditional gender hierarchies and male-driven ability to act.

Official Synopsis

When George Tanner does business with high-ranking Yakuza Tono, Tono kidnaps his daughter, and George summons his old friend, private eye Harry Kilmer, to Japan to investigate.

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