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The Designated Victim

Name: The Designated Victim
Director: Maurizio Lucidi
Released: 1971
Duration: 105 min

Representation Score

2.8/10

Limited

1971

Director

Maurizio Lucidi

Runtime

105 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

This 1970s Italian thriller focuses on psychological suspense and adheres closely to the era's cinematic conventions. It offers limited exploration of diverse representation or multi-layered themes. The film centers on traditional hierarchies, particularly around gender and race, using psychological instability as a genre mechanic rather than a meaningful examination of mental health or disability. Ultimately, the work reflects the demographic and socioeconomic norms of its time, focusing on upper-class character studies within a conventional Western framework.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Designated Victim have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or relationships that go beyond traditional heterosexual norms. The central relationships are based on conventional heterosexual dynamics.

How does The Designated Victim portray gender?

Limited

Female characters are often portrayed as passive or reactive, serving as objects of desire or support for male characters. The story emphasizes masculine struggles and psychological tension.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Designated Victim?

Limited

The cast is primarily composed of white and European actors, reflecting the cultural context of 1970s Italian cinema. There is no significant racial or ethnic diversity.

How does The Designated Victim represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story focuses on high-society urban settings and individual obsessions. A hippie character appears but serves mainly as a plot device rather than a cultural critic.

Does The Designated Victim include disability representation?

Minimal

Themes of paranoia and instability are used as thriller elements. The film does not offer nuanced depictions of neurodivergence or characters with disabilities having significant roles.

Present on Screen

The inclusion of a counter-culture 'hippie' character briefly breaks from the typical high-society norms.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks racial and ethnic diversity, remaining almost entirely white and European.
Female characters are often passive or reactive, serving as objects of desire or support for male characters.
There is no meaningful representation of LGBTQ+ identities or neurodivergence.

Official Synopsis

Stefano Augenti, an ambitious advertising executive, meets a curious hippie named Count Mateo Tiepolo and they form a strange bond. Seeking an escape from his unhappy marriage, Augenti is lured by the Count into a bizarre plot to kill each other's relatives.

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