
The Building
2009

1985
TV-14Director
Christopher Morahan
Runtime
90 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetSynopsis
A Government Department with data on us all in its computers is not functioning quite as its ex-Head intended. Frank Strange sets out to clear his own name and finds he is investigating a murder.
Overall Score
Limited
Category Breakdown
LGBTQ+ Representation
The film lacks any evidence of LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisnormative identities. The narrative focuses on state security and political extremism, which typically prioritizes heteronormative structures.
Gender Representation
The story centers on a male protagonist navigating a government apparatus. It relies on traditional masculine archetypes of investigation without showing women in high-agency roles.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
The setting suggests a homogeneous Anglo-Saxon cast typical of mid-80s UK political dramas. There is no evidence of a non-white majority or diverse casting.
Religious & Cultural Diversity
The film provides a moderate critique of state power and surveillance. It explores the tension between government departments and radical political movements through a lens of moral complexity.
Disability Representation
There is no discernible evidence regarding the inclusion of characters with physical, sensory, or neurodivergent disabilities.
Strengths
Areas for Improvement
AI Analysis
In the Secret State is a period-specific political thriller that prioritizes institutional friction over intersectional identity. The narrative architecture is built around the tension between individual agency and state surveillance, reflecting the systemic constraints of 1980s British television. While the film offers a nuanced look at the breakdown of social order and critiques institutional authority, it fails to incorporate diverse casting or non-traditional character arcs. The focus remains on a traditional, largely homogeneous depiction of power. Ultimately, the work functions as a standard dramatic framework of its era, lacking the progressive representation required for a higher score.

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