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Ordinary People

Name: Ordinary People
Director: Vladimir Perišić
Released: 2009
Duration: 80 min

Representation Score

1.9/10

Minimal

2009

Unrated

Director

Vladimir Perišić

Runtime

80 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Ordinary People is a grim psychological study of moral erosion rather than a vehicle for diverse representation. It prioritizes the deconstruction of the soldier identity over the inclusion of underrepresented social groups. The film succeeds in challenging traditional heroic archetypes by exploring how state authority can catalyze psychological corruption. It replaces righteous combat narratives with a disturbing look at situational ethics. However, the film lacks demographic complexity. By utilizing unnamed groups and focusing on a narrow military framework, it misses opportunities for meaningful representation of diverse identities.

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Category Breakdown

Does Ordinary People have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses entirely on military hierarchy and state-sanctioned violence. There is no evidence of LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex relationships.

How does Ordinary People portray gender?

Limited

The narrative reinforces rigid masculine hierarchies through combat and execution. It lacks women's ability to drive the story and diverse gender expressions, centering instead on masculine aggression.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Ordinary People?

Limited

The use of unnamed terrorists and prisoners strips characters of specific cultural heritage. This abstraction risks a reductive portrayal of the 'other' through dehumanization.

How does Ordinary People represent religion and culture?

Good

The film deconstructs the 'heroic soldier' cliché by critiquing institutional morality. It presents a bleak view of how military structures corrupt individual ethics.

Does Ordinary People include disability representation?

Minimal

The story contains no mention of characters navigating physical, sensory, or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional heroic soldier archetypes by exploring moral decay.
Offers a strong critique of institutional morality and state authority.
Provides a compelling deconstruction of military discipline and psychological corruption.

Limited or Absent

Lacks meaningful representation of diverse racial or ethnic identities.
Fails to include women's ability to drive the story or diverse gender expressions.
Provides no visibility for LGBTQ+ identities or neurodivergent characters.

Official Synopsis

The story of a soldier faced with mission of executing prisoners in an unspecified place and time. The film follows a hot summer day in the life of Džoni, a twenty-year-old recruit, who is sent to an abandoned farm on an unknown mission. The soldiers wait to battle unnamed terrorists, but instead, a bus full of prisoners arrives to the barracks. The commander orders the soldiers to execute the prisoners. At first, Džoni is shocked by the cruel killings, but as more prisoners arrive, he begins to enjoy the executions.

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