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Butterfly on the Shoulder

Butterfly on the Shoulder

1978

Director

Jacques Deray

Runtime

97 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

On a stopover in Barcelona, Fériaud Roland discovers a corpse in the hotel room next door. He wakes up in a strange clinic without remembering who brought him there. The doctor insists he hallucinated, but it's not long before he obtains evidence that it wasn't a dream.

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Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.4/10

Limited


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film lacks any mention of non-heteronormative identities or same-sex intimacy. The narrative focus remains strictly on the protagonist's psychological struggle and the central mystery.

Gender Representation

Fair

The story centers on a male protagonist, Fériaud Roland. While women are not explicitly depicted in submissive roles, there is no evidence of female characters occupying positions of high agency.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

Set in Barcelona, the film offers a Mediterranean backdrop, yet the cast does not appear to prioritize non-white or intersectional character depth. The focus stays on the lead's individual experience.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The film explores themes of subjective reality and institutional corruption through the medical establishment. However, it lacks overt systemic or secularist narratives, functioning as a standard mystery.

Disability Representation

Limited

Themes of memory loss and perceived hallucinations touch upon mental health. It remains unclear if these elements provide character agency or serve merely as plot devices for the mystery.

Strengths

  • The Mediterranean setting in Barcelona provides a potentially diverse backdrop for the mystery.
  • The plot explores themes of institutional reliability and the corruption of authority.

Areas for Improvement

  • The narrative lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative perspectives.
  • The story follows a traditional male-centric structure with limited female agency.
  • There is a lack of visible racial and ethnic diversity within the character descriptions.

AI Analysis

Jacques Deray’s thriller follows traditional 1970s European cinematic conventions. The narrative prioritizes a plot-driven mystery and individual psychological tension over the exploration of intersectional identities or social hierarchies. The film's structure is centered on a singular male protagonist's struggle to validate his reality. This focus limits the opportunity for broader demographic representation or the subversion of established social norms. While the setting and themes of institutional gaslighting provide some texture, the work remains a conventional genre piece without significant emphasis on diverse perspectives.

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