New Showbiz

You are here:
New Religion

New Religion

2022

Director

Keishi Kondo

Runtime

100 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

After her daughter's death, divorced Miyabi works as a call girl. One day, she meets a weird customer who wants to take a picture of her spine. Then, at another assignation, her feet. She soon realises that every time she allows her body to be photographed, her daughter's spirit gets closer. Soon only her eyes remain to be captured, leading to the collapse of society in this bold, visionary and unique fantasy.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.2/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film lacks explicit depictions of LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative relationships. The narrative focuses primarily on the protagonist's personal trauma and her professional life as a sex worker.

Gender Representation

Good

Miyabi disrupts traditional gender hierarchies by centering a female protagonist whose agency is defined by her marginalized social position. The film avoids domestic tropes, focusing instead on her unconventional labor and bodily reclamation.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

As a Japanese production, the film presents a culturally specific narrative with a predominantly homogeneous cast. The potential for a more fragmented social landscape is suggested by the theme of societal collapse.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The story critiques capitalist and patriarchal norms by focusing on a protagonist outside traditional family structures. It explores subjective spirituality and the dissolution of established social and religious institutions.

Disability Representation

Fair

The protagonist's psychological state and grief serve as a study of mental health and emotional vulnerability. This trauma acts as a central driver for the plot's progression.

Strengths

  • Strong subversion of traditional gender roles and domestic tropes through a complex female lead.
  • Profound critique of patriarchal and capitalist norms via a marginalized protagonist.
  • Innovative exploration of subjective spirituality and the fragility of social institutions.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lack of explicit LGBTQ+ representation or non-heteronormative relationship dynamics.
  • Homogeneous casting that limits racial and ethnic diversity within the narrative.
  • Ambiguity regarding the specific portrayal of mental health and neuro-emotional vulnerability.

AI Analysis

Keishi Kondo’s *New Religion* is a bold deconstruction of social structures that uses the horror genre to explore bodily autonomy and spiritual evolution. By centering on a woman navigating the fringes of society, the film successfully challenges traditional hierarchies and domestic expectations. The narrative moves effectively from a personal study of grief to a broader critique of institutional stability. It prioritizes subjective, identity-driven experiences over the rigid frameworks of organized religion or conventional social contracts. However, the film remains culturally homogeneous and lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities. While it explores unconventional interpersonal dynamics, it does not provide specific markers for diverse sexual orientations.

How are these scores produced? →

Similar Movies

Movie poster for The Deeper You Dig

The Deeper You Dig

2019

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 5.0 out of 10

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.