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Gangsterdam

Name: Gangsterdam
Director: Romain Lévy
Released: 2017
Duration: 100 min

Representation Score

4.6/10

Fair

2017

Director

Romain Lévy

Runtime

100 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Gangsterdam operates as a mid-range genre comedy that finds its strength in subverting social roles rather than demographic breadth. The film's most progressive element is the empowerment of Nora, who acts as a professional risk-taker rather than a passive romantic interest. However, the narrative lacks complexity in representing multiple aspects of identity. The central plot relies on conventional romantic pursuits and does not provide clear evidence of diverse racial or LGBTQ+ representation. While the setting is globalized, the character dynamics remain centered on a narrow trio. Ultimately, the film challenges institutional norms through its characters' anti-social behavior but fails to expand its demographic scope.

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Category Breakdown

Does Gangsterdam have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The story focuses on a heterosexual relationship between Ruben and Nora. There are no LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisgender identities in the main cast.

How does Gangsterdam portray gender?

Fair

Nora breaks traditional gender roles by acting as a powerful drug dealer who drives the plot and navigates dangerous situations, avoiding the damsel in distress cliché.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Gangsterdam?

Fair

Although the Amsterdam setting offers potential for diverse representation, the narrative centers around the main trio without confirmed ethnic diversity.

How does Gangsterdam represent religion and culture?

Good

The film questions conventional morality by presenting its protagonists through situational ethics and illegal activities, favoring individual empowerment over traditional social structures.

Does Gangsterdam include disability representation?

Minimal

The character descriptions do not mention any visible or invisible disabilities.

Present on Screen

Nora provides a strong subversion of traditional gender roles by driving the plot.
The narrative challenges traditional Western morality by embracing situational ethics and anti-social heroism.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks explicit LGBTQ+ representation, sticking to conventional heterosexual romantic arcs.
There is a lack of confirmed racial and ethnic diversity within the central character dynamics.

Official Synopsis

Ruben, Durex and Nora are three students in their last year of college. Ruben has already failed his exams once due to his lack of self-confidence. He's been as useless with Nora, to whom he dares not confess his feelings. And his childhood friend Durex, the most embarrassing guy in the world, is no help at all. When Ruben discovers that Nora is a dealer and that she's going to Amsterdam to bring back a new kind of drug, Ruben bucks up the courage to accompany her. This trip to Amsterdam is an ideal situation in which to at last seduce Nora. But his bad luck: Durex comes along for the ride. While the trio discover Europe's craziest capital, their lives really get complicated when they realize that the drug they've just picked up belongs to one of Amsterdam's most dangerous gangsters. Very quickly, Ruben, Durex and Nora will understand that to get their old lives back, they must stop being nerds in order to become true heroes.

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