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Moon Shadow

Name: Moon Shadow
Director: Alberto Simone
Released: 1995
Duration: 88 min

Representation Score

5.4/10

Fair

1995

Director

Alberto Simone

Runtime

88 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Moon Shadow is a character-driven drama that explores the tension between urban professional life and regional Sicilian structures. It avoids idealized success stories, focusing instead on intellectual disillusionment and systemic instability. The film excels in its realistic portrayal of mental health and the socio-economic realities of its characters. By centering on a psychiatric community, it provides a nuanced look at neurodivergence. However, the narrative lacks explicit LGBTQ+ representation and high-level racial the way different parts of someone's identity overlap. The focus remains primarily on the internal Italian experience and male-centric perspectives.

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Category Breakdown

Does Moon Shadow have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or stories about non-cisgender identities.

How does Moon Shadow portray gender?

Fair

The story focuses on the male experiences of Lorenzo and Salvatore. It avoids typical masculine hero clichés by emphasizing professional and financial struggles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Moon Shadow?

Fair

Set in Sicily, the film highlights socio-economic differences between Milan and the southern regions. It does not feature explicit racial diversity or a predominantly non-Anglo-Saxon cast.

How does Moon Shadow represent religion and culture?

Good

The story examines systemic social issues through a therapeutic community. It emphasizes subjective morality and the complexities of mental health rather than traditional institutional stability.

Does Moon Shadow include disability representation?

Good

The film incorporates neurodivergence into the main plot through Salvatore’s son. It treats mental health as a central part of the human experience, rather than a secondary element.

Present on Screen

Incorporates mental health realities through the character of Salvatore's son.
Explores class dynamics and the tension between urban and regional Italian life.
Avoids traditional, idealized male clichés in favor of realistic professional struggles.

Limited or Absent

Lacks visible LGBTQ+ representation or non-cisgender identities.
Does not feature racial diversity or multi-layered casting beyond regional specificity.
Has minimal depiction of women's ability to drive the story or diverse gender perspectives.

Official Synopsis

Astrophysicist Lorenzo returns to Sicily from Milan to sell his childhood home. Upon arrival, he meets Salvatore, whom he enlists to help with maintenance work. Lorenzo discovers that he does not have the funds he hoped for to continue the research he was working on. At the same time, he also discovers the world of the therapeutic community for psychotics, where Salvatore's son is a guest.

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