You are here:

Philips and the Monkey Pen

Philips and the Monkey Pen

Representation Score

3.0/10

Limited

2013

Director

Rojin Thomas, Shanil Muhammed

Runtime

140 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Philips and the Monkey Pen explores childhood wonder and magical realism through a Malayalam lens, providing a unique cultural perspective that diverges from Western-centric norms. However, the film lacks complexity in addressing diverse social identities and traditional hierarchies. It primarily functions as a traditional family drama without delving into broader identity issues.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Philips and the Monkey Pen have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or stories about non-cisgender identities. It focuses on a magical realism story centered around children.

How does Philips and the Monkey Pen portray gender?

Fair

The story revolves around a young male protagonist named Ryan Philip. There is no clear indication of how female characters or gender roles are portrayed.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Philips and the Monkey Pen?

Fair

As a Malayalam production, the cast is predominantly non-white, offering a non-Western perspective that breaks away from the homogeneity often seen in global mainstream cinema.

How does Philips and the Monkey Pen represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film follows a traditional family drama format. Magical realism adds some creativity, but it mainly reinforces conventional family structures.

Does Philips and the Monkey Pen include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of characters with physical, neurodivergent, or mental health disabilities in the narrative.

Present on Screen

  • Provides a non-Western cultural perspective through its Malayalam roots.
  • Offers a departure from the homogeneity found in global mainstream cinema.

Limited or Absent

  • Lacks representation of multi-layered complexity or diverse identity politics.
  • Does not actively challenge systemic hierarchies or traditional social structures.
  • Shows no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or disability perspectives.

Official Synopsis

The film revolves around an eight-year old called Ryan Philip and his adventures with a magical pen called the Monkey Pen.

How are these scores produced? →

Where to Watch

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.