New Showbiz

You are here:
The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh

The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh

1979

PG

Director

Gilbert Moses

Runtime

102 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

The Pittsburgh basketball team is hopeless. Maybe with the aid of an astrologer, and some new astrologically compatible players, they can become winners.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.3/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film focuses on a male-centric ensemble. There is no discernible presence of LGBTQ+ characters or narratives addressing queer themes.

Gender Representation

Limited

The narrative is heavily centered on a male protagonist group. It lacks female characters with significant agency, reinforcing traditional gendered hierarchies through omission.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Excellent

This film serves as a landmark of racial agency with an all-Black primary cast. It disrupts Hollywood expectations by centering Black protagonists in a position of narrative importance.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The story prioritizes community empowerment against external predatory forces. It uses supernatural elements to suggest a localized, community-centric form of agency.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no significant evidence regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities. Characters are defined by athletic and supernatural transformations.

Strengths

  • Features an all-Black primary cast that drives the plot through unique capabilities.
  • Provides high levels of racial agency by centering Black identity in a fantasy setting.
  • Explores themes of community protection and empowerment against predatory forces.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks female characters with significant agency or presence.
  • Provides no discernible representation of LGBTQ+ identities or themes.
  • Maintains traditional gendered hierarchies through the omission of diverse perspectives.

AI Analysis

The film is a significant achievement in racial agency, centering Black protagonists within an urban fantasy framework. By placing a Black cast at the heart of the narrative, it disrupts the era's standard Hollywood tropes. However, the film remains tethered to the social structures of the late 1970s. It lacks meaningful representation for women and LGBTQ+ individuals, maintaining a strictly male-centric perspective. Ultimately, the work succeeds as a culturally specific piece of Black independent cinema, even while adhering to traditional gender and queer dynamics.

How are these scores produced? →

Similar Movies

Movie poster for La comadrita

La comadrita

1978

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 4.8 out of 10

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.