New Showbiz

You are here:
World War III

World War III

2023

Director

Houman Seyyedi

Runtime

108 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Shakib is a homeless day laborer who never got over the loss of his wife and son in an earthquake years ago. Over the last couple of years, he has developed a relationship with a deaf and mute woman, Ladan. The construction site on which he works today turns out to be the set of a film about the atrocities committed by Hitler during WWII. Against all odds, he is given a movie role, a house and a chance at being somebody. When Ladan learns about this, she comes to his workplace begging for help. Shakib’s scheme to hide her goes tragically wrong and threatens to ruin his newfound status and what seemed to be the opportunity of a lifetime.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.6/10

Good

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film centers on a bond between Shakib and Ladan. While it lacks explicit queer identities, it explores unconventional companionship outside traditional family structures.

Gender Representation

Fair

The narrative avoids standard masculine dominance by focusing on Shakib's emotional trauma. His journey emphasizes vulnerability and the struggle to manage social hierarchies.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

The film offers a non-Western perspective on labor and class. It uses a WWII film set to juxtapose global historical traumas with local working-class realities.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The story critiques the stability of upward mobility and social stratification. It frames the pursuit of status as a precarious force against systemic neglect.

Disability Representation

Excellent

Ladan, a deaf and mute woman, is a central driver of the plot. Her disability is integrated into the core conflict rather than used for pity.

Strengths

  • The central character Ladan provides high-stakes agency as a deaf and mute woman.
  • The film offers a nuanced, non-Western perspective on class and labor.
  • It avoids 'inspiration porn' by integrating disability into the core narrative conflict.

Areas for Improvement

  • The narrative lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisnormative subtext.
  • Gender representation remains centered on heteronormative companionship and traditional social structures.

AI Analysis

World War III is a sophisticated drama that prioritizes character depth over identity politics. It excels by centering a character with a sensory disability, making her agency a primary engine for the film's tension. The film's strength lies in its critique of socioeconomic hierarchies. By framing the protagonist's rise as a fragile and potentially corrupting event, it provides a nuanced view of class and ambition. While the film lacks explicit representation for LGBTQ+ identities or diverse religious perspectives, its handling of disability and non-Western class struggles creates a robust, progressive cinematic experience.

How are these scores produced? →

Similar Movies

Movie poster for Tramontane

Tramontane

2017

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 6.9 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.