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The Astronaut Farmer

Name: The Astronaut Farmer
Director: Michael Polish
Released: 2007
Duration: 104 min

Representation Score

0.5/10

Minimal

2007

Director

Michael Polish

Runtime

104 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Astronaut Farmer upholds traditional cinematic clichés centered around the intersection of farming traditions and individualistic technological ambition. It reinforces the myth of the self-reliant pioneer through patriarchal leadership and familial cohesion. By focusing on a singular hero battling bureaucratic institutions, the film supports classical Western storytelling rather than challenging social norms. Ultimately, it celebrates the preservation of the family ranch and the American heartland, aligning with conservative values of stability and patriotism.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Astronaut Farmer have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any non-cisgender gender identities or same-sex relationships. It maintains an assumption that everyone is straight and cisgender.

How does The Astronaut Farmer portray gender?

Limited

The story follows traditional gender roles where men lead the action and women have supporting, domestic roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Astronaut Farmer?

Minimal

The cast and setting are mostly uniform, focusing on a rural, white, working-class community without much ethnic diversity.

How does The Astronaut Farmer represent religion and culture?

Limited

The film celebrates the traditional Western ideal of the family and the American Dream through the pioneer archetype.

Does The Astronaut Farmer include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent portrayals of physical or neurodivergent disabilities, nor do such traits play a central role in the plot.

Present on Screen

The film provides a focused, culturally specific portrayal of the American heartland and its unique working-class community.
It offers a clear, romanticized look at the 'pioneer spirit' through a modern, technological lens.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks racial and ethnic diversity, featuring a predominantly homogeneous cast.
Gender roles are confined to traditional hierarchies, with women in supportive, domestic positions.
The film does not represent LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender gender expressions.

Official Synopsis

Texan Charles Farmer left the Air Force as a young man to save the family ranch when his dad died. Like most American ranchers, he owes his bank. Unlike most, he's an astrophysicist with a rocket in his barn - one he's built and wants to take into space. It's his dream. The FBI puts him under surveillance when he tries to buy rocket fuel, and the FAA stalls him when he files a flight plan – but Charles is undeterred.

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