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Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon

Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon

Representation Score

9.3/10

Excellent

2022

R

Director

Ana Lily Amirpour

Runtime

102 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Ana Lily Amirpour creates a progressive, genre-bending thriller centered around a Black, queer-coded female protagonist. The film celebrates the ability to act of social outsiders by challenging traditional authority figures. By integrating diverse identities into the core plot, the narrative avoids including someone from a minority group without giving them real depth. While the film excels in representing racial and LGBTQ communities, it remains grounded in fantastical elements, focusing on supernatural empowerment rather than realistic portrayals of disability or systemic issues.

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Category Breakdown

Does Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon have LGBTQ+ representation?

Excellent

The film emphasizes a non-straight relationship between Mona Lisa and Rae, which is crucial to their character development and survival. This relationship goes beyond including someone from a minority group without giving them real depth and plays a key role in the story.

How does Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon portray gender?

Excellent

The film centers on women, avoiding traditional male-dominated narratives. Instead, it highlights female autonomy and complex interactions among women.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon?

Excellent

Casting a Black woman in the lead role challenges historical stereotypes about mysterious protagonists. This move adds a layer of diversity to the story.

How does Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon represent religion and culture?

Good

The film presents a world where traditional institutions like law enforcement and religion are seen as antagonists. This perspective highlights the struggles of outsiders.

Does Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon include disability representation?

Fair

Psychokinetic abilities in the film serve as a metaphor for unusual physical or mental conditions. However, the portrayal leans towards empowering the protagonist rather than a realistic depiction of disability.

Present on Screen

  • Centers a Black, queer woman in a high-concept role, adding layers of diversity.
  • Highlights female autonomy and complex interactions among women.
  • Drives the story with meaningful queer relationships.

Limited or Absent

  • Relies on supernatural clichés for disability representation rather than realistic exploration.
  • Focuses on outsiders, which may limit engagement with broader societal structures.

Official Synopsis

A young woman with psychokinetic powers breaks out of a Louisiana asylum and makes her way to New Orleans, where she falls into the city’s netherworld of misfits and miscreants.

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