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The Brand New Testament

The Brand New Testament

2015

Not Rated

Director

Jaco Van Dormael

Runtime

114 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

God lives in Brussels. On Earth though, God is a coward, morally pathetic and odious to his family. His daughter, Ea, is bored at home and can't stand being locked up in a small apartment in ordinary Brussels, until the day she decides to revolt against her dad...

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Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

7.3/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film does not center on LGBTQ+ identities or explicit same-sex intimacy. While its postmodern framework allows for fluid interpretations, there is a lack of visible, intentional representation within the primary character arcs.

Gender Representation

Excellent

The narrative disrupts patriarchal hierarchies by portraying the divine figure as a morally pathetic and inept individual. The protagonist, Eve, drives the story with superior emotional intelligence and agency.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

Set in a stylized Brussels, the film focuses on metaphysical themes rather than ethnic identity. While it avoids whitewashing, the lack of a multi-ethnic cast in central roles limits its impact.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

This is a sophisticated critique of organized religion and divine authority. It promotes secularism and humanistic empathy, framing the divine as an oppressive system that restricts human autonomy.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There are no prominent characters whose arcs are defined by physical or neurodivergent disabilities. No significant evidence of disability being used as a plot device was identified.

Strengths

  • Aggressive deconstruction of traditional patriarchal hierarchies and divine authority.
  • Strong female agency through the protagonist, Eve, who drives the narrative change.
  • Sophisticated critique of organized religion in favor of humanistic empathy.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lack of explicit LGBTQ+ representation or non-cisnormative identities.
  • Limited racial and ethnic diversity among the central characters.
  • Minimal focus on diverse physical or neurodivergent perspectives.

AI Analysis

The film excels at deconstructing traditional authority and subverting gendered power hierarchies. By reimagining the 'Great Father' as a flawed, cowardly figure, it replaces religious certainty with a focus on individual agency and secular empathy. However, the film's impact is tempered by a lack of explicit representation regarding race and LGBTQ+ identities. The narrative remains largely focused on metaphysical and domestic themes within a contemporary European setting. Ultimately, the work provides a progressive thematic framework through its systemic critique of Western institutionalism, even while its cast and character arcs remain relatively narrow in terms of demographic diversity.

How are these scores produced? →

Featured in

  • Best Gender Representation in Film
  • Best Religious & Cultural Representation in Film

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