You are here:

That Day

Name: That Day
Director: Raúl Ruiz
Released: 2003
Duration: 105 min

Representation Score

8.3/10

Excellent

2003

Director

Raúl Ruiz

Runtime

105 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Raúl Ruiz’s *That Day* is a dark, surrealist exploration of familial dysfunction that dismantles traditional power structures. It excels in its critique of systemic control and the subversion of patriarchal authority, providing a nuanced look at characters on the margins of social norms. However, the film lacks significant racial or ethnic diversity, staying within a European dramatic context. While it offers a sophisticated treatment of mental health and unconventional relationships, it does not explicitly address queer identity or broader multi-layered themes. Overall, the film's strength lies in its moral ambiguity and its rejection of standard narrative formulas, making it a compelling study of social and psychological instability.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does That Day have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on an unconventional bond between two socially excluded characters, challenging typical romantic expectations. Though not centered on queer identity, the relationship defies conventional norms.

How does That Day portray gender?

Good

The story undermines patriarchal dominance by depicting the father as a morally corrupt schemer. The daughter gains unexpected influence, thwarting her father's violent control.

How racially and ethnically diverse is That Day?

Fair

The film adheres to a European dramatic style without introducing diverse ethnic casting. The plot emphasizes psychological and class-based conflicts rather than intersecting identities.

How does That Day represent religion and culture?

Excellent

Ruiz critiques Western institutions by presenting the family unit as a corrupt entity. The film employs moral relativism to question traditional good-versus-evil binaries.

Does That Day include disability representation?

Good

The film offers a nuanced portrayal of neurodivergence, avoiding simplistic stereotypes. The daughter's ability to connect and act independently highlights her complexity and depth.

Present on Screen

Undermines traditional patriarchal hierarchies by stripping the father figure of moral authority.
Offers a complex, non-stereotypical portrayal of neurodivergence and mental health.
Challenges Western social structures through a critical examination of the family unit and institutions.

Limited or Absent

Lacks significant racial and ethnic diversity within its European dramatic framework.
Does not explicitly center or explore queer identity in a traditional sense.

Official Synopsis

A father is scheming to have his slightly mental daughter from an earlier marriage killed by allowing a murderous psychopath to be released from the asylum and led to his house. However, the psychopath and the daughter fall for each other.

How are these scores produced? →