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Just Believe

Just Believe

2018

Director

Alessandro Aronadio

Runtime

100 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

The owner of a dilapidated B&B has an idea: in order to dodge bankruptcy, he has to turn his business into a place of worship—a tax-free activity, where he'll host pilgrims in exchange for a generous donation. He joins forces with an unscrupulous accountant and a failed novelist to come up with his new religion.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

4.8/10

Fair


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film lacks explicit LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisnormative identities. The narrative remains strictly focused on the transactional comedic dynamics between the three central male protagonists.

Gender Representation

Fair

The story operates within a male-centric structure where agency is distributed among the three men. It lacks female characters in positions of intellectual or narrative authority.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The film presents a localized European context with a neutral approach to ethnicity. It avoids racial stereotypes while not actively promoting intersectional diversity through a multi-ethnic cast.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The film excels by satirically deconstructing the sanctity of religious and fiscal institutions. It portrays religion as a malleable, tax-exempt tool used to navigate capitalist pressures.

Disability Representation

Limited

There is no significant evidence of characters with visible or invisible disabilities. The narrative focuses on professional failure and economic status rather than physical or neurodivergent conditions.

Strengths

  • Provides a sophisticated critique of the intersection between faith and capitalism.
  • Effectively deconstructs the perceived sanctity of religious and fiscal institutions.
  • Offers a grounded and authentic portrayal of socioeconomic pressure and desperation.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks gender-diverse agency and female characters in positions of authority.
  • Provides minimal representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisnormative characters.
  • Does not include characters with visible or invisible disabilities to drive the narrative.

AI Analysis

Just Believe is a satirical comedy that prioritizes social critique over demographic inclusivity. Its strength lies in its intellectual deconstruction of how capitalism and religion intersect, using a fraudulent new religion to highlight economic desperation. However, the film's narrow focus on a trio of male protagonists limits its representation of gender, race, and LGBTQ+ identities. The narrative architecture is built around a specific, localized socioeconomic reality that does not seek to challenge traditional identity norms. Ultimately, the film functions as a sharp social satire. While it lacks diverse character archetypes, it succeeds in its mission to subvert established power structures through a skeptical, comedic lens.

How are these scores produced? →

Featured in

  • Best Religious & Cultural Representation in Film

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Diversity score: 4.5 out of 10

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