You are here:

The Shepherd and the Women

Name: The Shepherd and the Women
Director: Ali Badrakhan
Released: 1991
Duration: 100 min

Representation Score

5.4/10

Fair

1991

Director

Ali Badrakhan

Runtime

100 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film highlights women's ability to drive the story by shifting the focus from a patriarchal household to a female-driven narrative. The three women are central to the emotional storyline, turning the male newcomer into a catalyst for their desires and competition. Despite operating within conventional romantic and heterosexual frameworks, the film challenges traditional domestic clichés by emphasizing the subjective morality and empowerment of its female leads. However, the narrative does not engage with LGBTQ+ identities or disability issues. Its cultural focus is specific to a particular region, limiting its broader appeal.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Shepherd and the Women have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film centers on heterosexual romantic competition between female protagonists and a male outsider. There is no indication of non-straight relationships or queer undertones.

How does The Shepherd and the Women portray gender?

Good

The narrative shifts focus to the emotional autonomy of three women, disrupting traditional hierarchies where men hold authority. The male character is portrayed as an object of desire rather than a central figure of power.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Shepherd and the Women?

Fair

Set in a Middle Eastern context, the film presents a non-Western perspective on domestic life. It avoids Western casting conventions by emphasizing a specific ethnic identity.

How does The Shepherd and the Women represent religion and culture?

Good

The story examines widowhood and the reconfiguration of family structures outside patriarchal control. It hints at a critique of established social boundaries and communal norms.

Does The Shepherd and the Women include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no visible or mentioned depictions of physical or cognitive disabilities within the narrative.

Present on Screen

Highlights female empowerment and emotional independence within a domestic setting.
Challenges traditional patriarchal structures by making women the main drivers of the plot.
Offers a non-Western perspective on social and family dynamics.

Limited or Absent

Does not include representations of LGBTQ+ identities or queer undertones.
Does not depict physical or cognitive disabilities.
Focuses on a specific ethnic identity rather than a diverse cast.

Official Synopsis

The widowed Wafaa lives with her teenage daughter Salma and her sister-in-law Azza in her late husband Kamel's remote house. When Kamel's former cellmate comes to offer his help, the three women are hesitant to accept at first, but they end up falling for him and competing for his affection.

How are these scores produced? →