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Hangs Upon Nothing

Name: Hangs Upon Nothing
Director: Jeremy Rumas
Released: 2014
Duration: 80 min

Representation Score

5.7/10

Fair

2014

Director

Jeremy Rumas

Runtime

80 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Hangs Upon Nothing is a cross-cultural documentary that bridges the gap between Western travelers and local Indonesian communities by focusing on the shared passion for surfing. While the film excels in showcasing ethnic and geographic diversity, it maintains a strong male-centric perspective. The narrative reflects the existing social dynamics of the surfing world without actively challenging them. Ultimately, the film offers a nuanced view of diverse human experiences through its emphasis on non-materialistic, nomadic lifestyles and the integration of local voices.

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Category Breakdown

Does Hangs Upon Nothing have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not include any explicit LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The story focuses on surfing and does not address non-straight identities.

How does Hangs Upon Nothing portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on male-dominated narratives involving Chuck Corbett, the Jones brothers, and local teenage surfers. This reflects the demographics of the surfing subcultures.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Hangs Upon Nothing?

Good

The film highlights the integration of Western travelers with local Balinese and Indonesian youth, emphasizing the importance of local communities in the global surfing culture.

How does Hangs Upon Nothing represent religion and culture?

Good

The documentary focuses on remote atolls and nomadic lifestyles, promoting a decentralized worldview centered around shared experiences and nature rather than traditional capitalist structures.

Does Hangs Upon Nothing include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no mention of physical or neurodivergent disabilities among the film's main subjects.

Present on Screen

The film successfully integrates Western travelers with local Balinese and Indonesian surfers, highlighting geographic and ethnic diversity.
It disrupts the 'Western traveler' cliché by centering local communities in the global surfing culture.
The film promotes a progressive, non-materialistic worldview focused on decentralized, global experiences.

Limited or Absent

The narrative is heavily male-centric, reflecting the existing demographics of the surfing subcultures.
The film lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or themes.
Physical and neurodivergent disabilities are not represented in the film.

Official Synopsis

HANGS UPON NOTHING documents the lives of surfers: Chuck Corbett who wandered his way to the remote atolls of Kiribati, brothers Mikala and Daniel Jones whose adventures take them to the far corners of the Indonesian archipelago, alongside a local crew of teenage surfers coming of age amongst the surf mecca of Bali. Their intertwined journeys are bound by an unending quest to find and ride perfect waves.

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