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Push

Name: Push
Director: Osamu Tezuka
Released: 1987
Duration: 4 min

Representation Score

5.8/10

Fair

1987

Director

Osamu Tezuka

Runtime

4 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Osamu Tezuka’s short film serves as a philosophical allegory about environmental degradation and the limits of consumerism. It employs a surrealist framework to critique the transactional nature of modern existence, particularly how technology can replace natural systems. The film's strength lies in its critique of consumerism and avoidance of traditional gender roles. However, it lacks explicit representation of various identities and a diverse cast. The brief narrative focuses on a singular metaphysical journey, limiting character-driven diversity.

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Category Breakdown

Does Push have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not explicitly depict LGBTQ+ identities or relationships. It focuses on a protagonist's metaphysical journey and avoids interpersonal romantic subplots.

How does Push portray gender?

Fair

The work avoids traditional gender roles by centering on a protagonist's metaphysical struggle rather than domestic or social structures.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Push?

Fair

Characters are presented with a universalized, post-human aesthetic that avoids specific ethnic identifiers. However, the film lacks an explicit, diverse cast of different races.

How does Push represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The story critiques Western-style consumerism and capitalism, with the protagonist's journey toward a Creator suggesting a move toward spiritual inquiry over institutionalized religion.

Does Push include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no visible or invisible disabilities portrayed. No characters are identified as having neurodivergent or physical impairments.

Present on Screen

Provides a profound critique of Western-style consumerism and capitalist structures.
Avoids traditional gender hierarchies by focusing on metaphysical rather than domestic roles.
Avoids racial stereotyping through a universalized, post-human aesthetic.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight-centered subplots.
Does not feature a diverse cast of different races or ethnic identifiers.
Provides no depiction of characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

In a convenient world where vending machines offer just about everything, the hero procures whatever he needs from machines on his journey to see the creator. He tries to make a replacement purchase of the earth. But the creator declines his request, saying simply that there's no such thing as a brand new earth. The simplicity of the story illustrates the depths of Osamu Tezuka's despair at the earth's degradation, forming the gist of this 4-minute work.

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