You are here:

Penitentia

Name: Penitentia
Director: Chris Lawing
Released: 2023
Duration: 99 min

Representation Score

8.3/10

Excellent

2023

13+

Director

Chris Lawing

Runtime

99 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Penitentia is a character-driven drama that examines the tension between individual redemption and institutional corruption. By focusing on a protagonist who is both a successful lawyer and a former convict, the film questions the prestige of the legal profession. This approach allows for a critique of systemic biases and flaws within established legal and corporate structures. However, the film's diversity profile is limited by its narrow focus. While it effectively explores the protagonist's intersecting identities, it lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities, women's ability to drive the story, and disabilities.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Penitentia have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not explicitly address LGBTQ+ identities or stories. There is no information about LGBTQ+ characters, so the score remains neutral.

How does Penitentia portray gender?

Fair

The story focuses on the professional success of a male protagonist. He avoids passive roles through his intellect, but there is little information about the ability to act of female characters.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Penitentia?

Good

Alejandro Villacaño represents a non-Anglo-Saxon identity within a restricted legal system. His background as a former convict highlights how systemic structures view people of color.

How does Penitentia represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative criticizes Western institutions by focusing on corporate negligence and abuse of power. It emphasizes subjective morality and systemic justice over maintaining the status quo.

Does Penitentia include disability representation?

Fair

There is no information about the depiction of physical or neurodivergent disabilities. The score remains neutral due to the lack of relevant information.

Present on Screen

Uses the protagonist's intersecting identities to highlight the conflict between personal achievement and institutional barriers.
Critiques systemic biases and the inherent flaws in established legal and corporate structures.
Places a former convict in a position of professional power, challenging traditional hierarchies.

Limited or Absent

Does not provide explicit representation or narrative focus on LGBTQ+ identities.
Offers limited insight into the ability to act and presence of female characters.
Does not depict physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Alejandro 'Ale' Villacaño is a young associate lawyer who has landed a job at a prestigious law firm. Even though he was top of his class, he is also a former convict and an acquitted felon, which makes him an unlikely pick for this firm. Intent on forgetting his past and forging a new identity, he dedicates himself to being the top associate at the firm. He is reluctant to take on a pro bono case to help an old friend, but ultimately does so at the prodding of his mentor. For Ale, it's filing a few grievances against the local prison and then back to his new life. But for his client, it’s a matter of life and death. No matter how much Ale tries to resist, the pull to do the right thing, to fight the good fight is too strong. Ensnared now in a case rife with corruption, corporate negligence, and abuse of power, Ale must decide what kind of lawyer he is really meant to be.

How are these scores produced? →