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Cloudy Times

Name: Cloudy Times
Director: Aramí Ullón
Released: 2014
Duration: 89 min

Representation Score

7.4/10

Good

2014

Director

Aramí Ullón

Runtime

89 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Cloudy Times is an intimate documentary that finds strength in its localized, non-Western perspective. By centering on a Paraguayan family, it avoids the typical clichés of Anglo-Saxon cinema, offering a more diverse global viewpoint. The film excels in its portrayal of disability and gender. It moves beyond superficial depictions of illness to explore the heavy psychological weight of caregiving, placing emphasis on the female experience of navigating familial duty. However, the film remains narrow in its scope. It does not engage with overt LGBTQ+ themes or multi-layered activism, focusing instead on a specific, private domestic struggle.

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Category Breakdown

Does Cloudy Times have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not include any explicit LGBTQ+ characters or themes. Instead, it focuses on the maternal bond and the biological aspects of degenerative illness.

How does Cloudy Times portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on a mother-daughter relationship, highlighting the emotional labor and psychological impact of caregiving on women.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Cloudy Times?

Good

Set in Paraguay, the film offers a South American perspective. This provides a contrast to the predominantly Western viewpoints found in mainstream cinema.

How does Cloudy Times represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film avoids idealized family structures, opting for a realistic portrayal of unresolved issues. It prioritizes emotional truth over moralistic or religious archetypes.

Does Cloudy Times include disability representation?

Good

The narrative addresses neurodegenerative illness through lived experience. It avoids 'inspiration porn' by focusing on the systemic and personal challenges of chronic illness.

Present on Screen

Provides a meaningful South American perspective that contrasts with Western cinematic homogeneity.
Offers a nuanced, non-idealized portrayal of family dynamics and unresolved emotional issues.
Avoids 'inspiration porn' by focusing on the authentic, systemic challenges of neurodegenerative illness.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation or engagement with LGBTQ+ identities and themes.
The narrative scope is limited to a specific domestic dyad, lacking broader multi-layered exploration.

Official Synopsis

Arami Ullón must return to Paraguay to make an important decision: what will happen to her sick mother, Mirna? The heartfelt gaze of the camera reveals a relationship filled with love, but also unspoken and unresolved issues. A sensitive film which examines the inner turmoil of the daughter during the final stages of her mother’s degenerative illness.

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