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Lost on Purpose

Name: Lost on Purpose
Director: Ian Nelms, Eshom Nelms
Released: 2013
Duration: 104 min

Representation Score

3.5/10

Limited

2013

Not Rated

Director

Ian Nelms, Eshom Nelms

Runtime

104 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Lost on Purpose is a traditional character study focusing on rural resilience and interpersonal conflict. It excels by giving a female lead a significant role in driving the story within a male-dominated industry, challenging the standard agrarian hierarchy. However, the film lacks broader complexity, prioritizing conventional formulas of conflict and localized feuds over a more diverse or systemic critique of its setting.

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Category Breakdown

Does Lost on Purpose have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not explicitly include LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisgender identities. The story focuses on traditional themes of gender rivalry and personal conflicts.

How does Lost on Purpose portray gender?

Fair

Elizabeth James stands out as a strong female lead who challenges the traditional male-dominated rural hierarchy. However, the plot relies heavily on masculine clichés such as physical confrontations and rebellious ranch hands.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Lost on Purpose?

Limited

Set in the diverse San Joaquin Valley, the film focuses on a localized feud. There is no indication of a multi-ethnic cast or integrated racial perspectives.

How does Lost on Purpose represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story highlights the protagonist's resistance to domineering agricultural cooperatives, emphasizing individual pride and determination within a traditional industry.

Does Lost on Purpose include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no characters with visible or invisible disabilities featured in the narrative.

Present on Screen

The film centers on a female protagonist managing a third-generation dairy farm, disrupting traditional patriarchal leadership in rural settings.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks visible multi-layered complexity, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ visibility and multi-ethnic casting.
The plot relies heavily on traditional masculine clichés of volatility and conflict, which may limit its progressive depth.

Official Synopsis

Our story takes place in the fertile, San Joaquin Valley. Fueled by gin and sheer determination, Elizabeth James (Ms. Liz) operates her third generation dairy farm outside the region's domineering co-ops. To help keep the place afloat, she's employed five renegade ranch hands. These boys have put a pin in responsibility and opted to stretch out the party as long as possible. Unfortunately, women, booze, and fisticuffs can only lead to one outcome: trouble. With the dairy farm reporting its third straight deficit year, Ms Liz is attracting some unwanted attention. Delbert Furgeson, the owner of the area's largest co-op, is pushing to buy her out. This only incenses the prideful Ms Liz and starts a volatile feud between the two. Sharing the narrative are the ranch hands.

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