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Growth of the Soil

Growth of the Soil

Representation Score

0.4/10

Minimal

1921

Director

Gunnar Sommerfeldt

Runtime

107 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Growth of the Soil is a classic example of early 20th-century traditional storytelling. The narrative structure celebrates the resilience of the traditional family and the sanctity of land ownership rather than challenging social hierarchies. The film operates within the strict social constraints of its time, emphasizing a stoic, individualist struggle for survival. It reinforces the norms of agrarian life and merit through manual labor specific to its era. Given that the story is set in a specific geographic location, it lacks perspectives that reflect multiple aspects of identity or diverse ethnic backgrounds.

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Category Breakdown

Does Growth of the Soil have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on a traditional nuclear family essential for agrarian survival. It does not include any representation of non-straight or non-cisgender identities or narratives that challenge the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Growth of the Soil portray gender?

Limited

Inger plays a crucial role in maintaining the farm's stability, but the narrative emphasizes the male protagonist's labor. The film highlights traditional gender roles and the division of labor based on gender.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Growth of the Soil?

Minimal

The story portrays a homogeneous rural Norwegian population. There is no indication of non-white casting or the inclusion of diverse ethnic perspectives within this localized setting.

How does Growth of the Soil represent religion and culture?

Limited

The narrative upholds Western values concerning land ownership and family legacy. It emphasizes social continuity and the stability of the homestead without questioning existing institutions.

Does Growth of the Soil include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature characters with visible or invisible disabilities. The plot centers almost entirely on the physical strength needed for demanding agricultural work.

Present on Screen

  • Offers a focused, authentic portrayal of early 20th-century Norwegian agrarian life and the struggle for survival.

Limited or Absent

  • Does not represent LGBTQ+ identities, diverse racial backgrounds, or characters with disabilities.
  • Reinforces traditional patriarchal structures and rigid gender roles through its narrative focus.

Official Synopsis

In rural Norway in the early 20th century, the homesteader Isak makes a farm out of barren soil, together with his wife Inger and their two sons. Life is both harsh and fulfilling.

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