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Cicada Song

Name: Cicada Song
Director: Michael Starr
Released: 2019
Duration: 73 min

Representation Score

6.0/10

Good

2019

Director

Michael Starr

Runtime

73 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Cicada Song deviates from traditional agrarian mysteries by placing a female protagonist in a position of professional authority. The inclusion of a central queer romantic storyline challenges conventional family structures seen in rural settings. The film explores social complexities through its focus on migrant labor and the protagonist's advocacy. This creates a more layered narrative compared to typical genre entries. While the film successfully subverts gender and sexual orientation clichés, the depth of racial representation remains limited due to a lack of detail regarding individual migrant character's ability to drive the story.

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Category Breakdown

Does Cicada Song have LGBTQ+ representation?

Good

The film challenges traditional rural narratives by focusing on a romantic relationship between Karen and Annabelle. This queer storyline is crucial to the plot rather than being a minor subplot.

How does Cicada Song portray gender?

Good

Karen stands out as a tough, outspoken farm manager who defies traditional gender roles. Her leadership and intellectual involvement drive the investigation, moving away from passive feminine stereotypes.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Cicada Song?

Fair

The story highlights Karen's interactions with migrant workers, acknowledging systemic social issues. However, the depth of individual ability to act for these characters is not fully explored.

How does Cicada Song represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative questions small-town stability by revealing hidden darkness within established community structures. It emphasizes communal empathy and interconnectedness over strict institutional hierarchies.

Does Cicada Song include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence regarding the portrayal of visible or invisible disabilities in the narrative.

Present on Screen

Subverts traditional gender hierarchies with a competent, authoritative female lead.
Features a central, meaningful queer romantic storyline.
Challenges rural stereotypes through a focus on migrant labor and social advocacy.

Limited or Absent

Lacks specific detail regarding the individual ability to act and depth of migrant characters.
Provides no evidence of disability representation within the narrative.

Official Synopsis

Karen is a tough, corn fed, outspoken, farm manager who cares about the people she works for and the migrant people who work for her. When one of her farmhands approaches her about a little girl that has recently disappeared, she becomes closer to her employees than she ever thought possible. But, when her lover, Annabelle, disappears, the bubble Karen lives in bursts and she begins an investigation only to uncover something dark in the little town she grew up in.

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