You are here:
Beside Still Waters

Beside Still Waters

2014

TV-MA

Director

Chris Lowell

Runtime

78 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Daniel Thatcher, a young romantic, has recently lost both of his parents in a car accident. None of his friends came to the funeral, and now he's losing the family home. The weekend before he has to move out, Daniel hosts a memorial celebration and insists that his friends attend.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.8/10

Limited


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film lacks visible representation of non-heteronormative identities. The narrative focuses on grief and nostalgia without exploring LGBTQ+ themes.

Gender Representation

Fair

The story centers on a male protagonist's struggle with closure. While female actors are present, the plot primarily drives through male-coded experiences of friendship.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

The ensemble appears to follow a traditional, potentially homogeneous casting approach. There is no indication of a diverse ethnic composition within the group of friends.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The film operates within conventional dramatic tropes regarding family and nostalgia. It focuses on individual psychological struggles rather than systemic or cultural critiques.

Disability Representation

Minimal

While the film addresses alcohol abuse, it is unclear if this is portrayed with agency. There is insufficient evidence to score this category.

Strengths

  • Explores deep, personal themes of grief and nostalgia.
  • Provides a focused character study of emotional closure.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks visible LGBTQ+ representation or non-heteronormative identities.
  • Relies on traditional gendered narrative structures and male-centric perspectives.
  • Shows a lack of ethnic diversity within the primary ensemble.
  • Does not engage with systemic or cultural deconstruction.

AI Analysis

Beside Still Waters is a character-driven drama that prioritizes personal emotional arcs over social commentary. The narrative structure focuses on a group of friends reuniting in Michigan to process grief and nostalgia. The film adheres to traditional dramatic frameworks, centering on a male protagonist's journey. It lacks significant evidence of intersectional storytelling or the subversion of established demographic norms. Ultimately, the production functions as a conventional study of individual loss rather than a vehicle for exploring diverse identities or challenging cultural hierarchies.

How are these scores produced? →

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.