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Besættelse

Besættelse

Representation Score

3.4/10

Limited

1944

Director

Bodil Ipsen

Runtime

71 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Bodil Ipsen’s direction offers a compelling look at gendered power dynamics, moving away from the era's male-dominated perspectives. The film successfully centers a woman's active role and a man's psychological unraveling, challenging traditional hierarchies. However, the work is constrained by the historical context of 1944 Denmark. The cast lacks racial and ethnic diversity, reflecting the social norms of the time. Additionally, the narrative operates within a strictly heterosexual framework. Overall, the film is a nuanced exploration of individual impulses versus societal norms. Though it does not meet modern diversity standards, its examination of psychological instability marks a progressive shift from mid-century cinematic norms.

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Category Breakdown

Does Besættelse have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The story focuses on heterosexual relationships and does not include any LGBTQ+ identities or queer undertones.

How does Besættelse portray gender?

Good

Else Petersen plays a significant role in driving the story by navigating social hierarchies for her own benefit. The film challenges traditional male stereotypes by showing the male protagonist's instability.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Besættelse?

Minimal

Set in 1944 Denmark, the cast appears ethnically uniform. There is no indication of racial diversity or non-Anglo-Saxon representation in this historical setting.

How does Besættelse represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film examines personal morality and obsession with institutional values. It critiques the fragile social structures upheld by the middle-aged manufacturing class.

Does Besættelse include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not provide any information about characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

  • Bodil Ipsen provides a unique female directorial perspective for the 1940s.
  • The film challenges traditional male stereotypes by highlighting male vulnerability and instability.
  • Else Petersen is shown taking an active role in navigating social hierarchies.

Limited or Absent

  • The film lacks any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or queer undertones.
  • The cast is ethnically uniform, lacking racial diversity.
  • There is no visible representation of characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

The middle-aged manufacturer Jens Steen is on his way to his summer house on the West Coast to relax. All alone. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Else Petersen is on the hook - and she is looking forward to a holiday with everything paid for. With classic womanizing, she gets in with Jens Steen, who becomes obsessed with her beauty and youth. But when the local Jutland bicycle mechanic turns up the charm, things start to get heated. And before long, Jens Steen has a scandal on his hands, which he can only do one thing to avoid. In 1944, Bodil Ipsen herself directed one of the few film noir dramas in Danish film history. Obsession is an excellent film about the extremes of emotion and the unbearable lightness of life.

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