New Showbiz

You are here:
The Dancer and the Thief

The Dancer and the Thief

2009

Director

Fernando Trueba

Runtime

127 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Present day. Chile. Legendary bank robber Vergara Grey is getting out of prison after 5 long years and is looking forward to a quiet, uneventful life together with his wife and son whom oddly he hasn't heard from in years. But soon his resolve is tested when he meets 19 year old Angel a young thief who insists the two join up to score the biggest heist of all time. Though tempted, he resists until he finds out that his beloved wife has gone off with a millionaire and his son wants to change his last name. Then Victoria, a graceful and mysteriously mute dancer living in a conservatory, steps into the picture. She captivates Vergara and Angel, as well as all others that cross her path, drastically changing their lives.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.7/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film lacks explicit LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. The central romantic tension follows a traditional trajectory between the protagonist and Victoria.

Gender Representation

Fair

Victoria serves as a central catalyst for change, disrupting the protagonist's patriarchal stability. Her presence shifts power dynamics and influences the male characters' trajectories.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

Set in Chile, the film moves away from homogeneous Western perspectives. It explores local social strata and regional identity through its characters.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The story critiques the stability of the nuclear family through themes of abandonment and identity shifts. It favors subjective experience over traditional social norms.

Disability Representation

Fair

Victoria is a mute character who uses her silence as a tool of influence. She possesses significant agency rather than being a passive subject of pity.

Strengths

  • The film avoids 'inspiration porn' by giving the mute protagonist significant agency and influence.
  • The Chilean setting provides a natural departure from homogeneous Hollywood perspectives.
  • The narrative effectively challenges traditional patriarchal stability and the nuclear family unit.

Areas for Improvement

  • The film lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative narratives.
  • The central romantic arc follows a relatively traditional and predictable trajectory.

AI Analysis

The film offers a nuanced departure from standard cinematic tropes by focusing on the dissolution of traditional domestic structures. It avoids the typical 'inspiration porn' trope by giving its non-verbal protagonist significant agency and power. While the narrative lacks overt engagement with identity politics or queer representation, it succeeds in exploring class and regional identity within a Chilean context. The character dynamics challenge conventional patriarchal authority and family stability. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its character-driven approach to social disruption, using individual agency to bypass institutional norms.

How are these scores produced? →

Similar Movies

Movie poster for Shake Off Your Sorrows

Shake Off Your Sorrows

2018

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 5.9 out of 10
Movie poster for Shift

Shift

2010

No user ratings available yet
No diversity score available

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.