You are here:

Return of the Secret Society

Name: Return of the Secret Society
Director: Peter Woodcock
Released: 1968
Duration: 65 min

Representation Score

5.7/10

Fair

1968

Director

Peter Woodcock

Runtime

65 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Return of the Secret Society stands out for its progressive themes focusing on identity and liberation. By centering a lesbian awakening and female sexual ability to act, the film challenges the conservative social frameworks of 1968. It moves beyond simple eroticism to explore communal queer belonging. However, the film's impact is limited by a lack of racial diversity. The narrative appears to rely on the conventional casting standards of the era, focusing on a singular protagonist's journey without broader ethnic representation. Ultimately, the film prioritizes subjective experience and the disruption of traditional gender roles, making it a notable example of period-specific identity-driven cinema.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Return of the Secret Society have LGBTQ+ representation?

Excellent

The film focuses on a lesbian awakening, guiding the protagonist towards a queer identity. It portrays the 'daughters of Lesbos' as a community rather than a deviation from normative relationships.

How does Return of the Secret Society portray gender?

Good

Babette challenges traditional gender roles by actively participating in her own exploration rather than being a passive object of the male gaze. She exercises sexual ability to act and desire, taking control of her journey.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Return of the Secret Society?

Limited

The narrative lacks explicit evidence of a diverse or non-Anglo-Saxon cast. The focus remains on a personal journey that suggests a reliance on conventional period casting standards.

How does Return of the Secret Society represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The story challenges Western moralities by prioritizing carnal liberation over social constraints. It presents non-traditional sexual structures as valid paths for self-discovery and personal growth.

Does Return of the Secret Society include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of characters with visible or invisible disabilities within the film's context.

Present on Screen

Strong focus on queer identity and communal belonging through the protagonist’s lesbian awakening.
Subverts traditional gender roles by centering female sexual ability to act and active desire.
Challenges repressive social and religious institutions of the late 1960s.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit evidence of racial or ethnic diversity in the cast.
Relies on conventional casting standards typical of the period's mainstream productions.

Official Synopsis

Babette and her sexual exploits, narrating her Emmanuelle-style lustful encounters in the big city. Babette needs cash, contacts a photographer, and enters a new society where she satisfies her carnal desires. Soon, as her lesbian awakening flourishes, Babette will meet the "daughters of lesbos" and the rest is history.

How are these scores produced? →