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The First on the List

Name: The First on the List
Director: Roan Johnson
Released: 2011
Duration: 85 min

Representation Score

6.3/10

Good

2011

Director

Roan Johnson

Runtime

85 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film serves as a period piece that uses historical volatility to explore themes of ability to act and systemic resistance. By framing the state as a source of tension, it disrupts conventional expectations of stability. While the narrative focuses heavily on a male-centric trio, the sociopolitical context of the Lotta Continua movement provides a framework for exploring shifting social dynamics. The film prioritizes the perspectives of political outsiders and insurgents. Ultimately, the work functions as a critique of established institutions, using the unrest of 1970s Italy to challenge traditional Western authority and nationalistic norms.

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Category Breakdown

Does The First on the List have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not explicitly depict queer identities or non-straight relationships. However, the 1970s setting hints at a narrative exploring the loosening of traditional social norms.

How does The First on the List portray gender?

Good

The story revolves around a male trio navigating political volatility. The film explores a period marked by significant shifts in gendered power dynamics and the rise of feminism.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The First on the List?

Fair

The story is set in Pisa, reflecting the Mediterranean demographics of 1970s Italy. It focuses on the struggles of underrepresented political actors.

How does The First on the List represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative challenges traditional patriotism by focusing on revolutionary sentiments and critiquing centralized political authority. It engages deeply with systemic critiques.

Does The First on the List include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no depiction of physical or neurodivergent disabilities within the narrative.

Present on Screen

Strong engagement with systemic critique and the subversion of traditional political authority.
Effective use of historical context to explore themes of rebellion and social flux.
Prioritizes the perspectives of underrepresented political actors and outsiders.

Limited or Absent

The narrative ability to act is heavily concentrated within a male-centric trio.
Lack of explicit representation for LGBTQ+ identities or neurodivergent characters.
Limited demographic variety due to the specific localized historical setting.

Official Synopsis

It’s June 1st, 1970, and Pisa is the epicenter of the movement Lotta Continua. There are rumors of an imminent coup d’état, and the most visible exponents fear being arrested before dawn. One of them is Pino Masi, a singer-songwriter who wrote the hit “La ballata del Pinelli.” He invites two high school students, Renzo Lulli and Fabio Gismondi, to flee Italy with him, and the three set off. A series of misunderstandings ensues, starting with an unnerving encounter with soldiers on their way to Rome for the national holiday the next day.

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