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Passed by Censor

Name: Passed by Censor
Director: Serhat Karaaslan
Released: 2019
Duration: 96 min

Representation Score

2.9/10

Limited

2019

Director

Serhat Karaaslan

Runtime

96 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Passed by Censor is a psychological study of obsession rather than a broad exploration of diverse identities. It succeeds in offering a non-Western perspective by grounding its narrative in the specific cultural context of Istanbul. The film's strength lies in its critique of institutional authority and its departure from Western-centric storytelling. It uses the prison setting to examine the instability of truth and the subversion of professional duty. However, the film lacks representation for LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities. The female lead functions more as a narrative object than an active agent, limiting the depth of gendered ability to act.

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Category Breakdown

Does Passed by Censor have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include explicit LGBTQ+ characters or stories about non-straight identities. The main conflict is presented through a traditional, obsessive heterosexual lens.

How does Passed by Censor portray gender?

Fair

Selma mainly serves as a catalyst for the male protagonist's emotional journey, functioning as an object of gaze. However, the film challenges the stability of traditional masculinity by showing the protagonist as emotionally unstable.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Passed by Censor?

Fair

Set in Istanbul with a Turkish cast, the film offers a non-Western perspective. It departs from Hollywood-centric homogeneity through its specific geographic and cultural context.

How does Passed by Censor represent religion and culture?

Good

The story explores the tension between personal desires and institutional authority. It critiques systemic control by focusing on a character who defies his state-sanctioned role.

Does Passed by Censor include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of characters with visible or invisible disabilities. Neurodivergence is not used as a central narrative device in this film.

Present on Screen

Provides a non-Western perspective through its Turkish setting and cast.
Offers a nuanced critique of institutional authority and systemic control.
Subverts traditional male archetypes by portraying the protagonist as emotionally compromised.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight narratives.
Provides no visible or invisible representation of disability.
Positions the female character primarily as an object of the male gaze.

Official Synopsis

In the heart of Istanbul's prison, Zakir controls the letters prisoners receive. His average day is spent between the censorship office, his colleagues and his evening writing class. For a writing assignment, he steals a photo from one of the letters, in which appears Selma, an inmate's wife. More than an inspiration, she becomes an obsession for Zakir. He observes her, makes up stories, and imagines the worst to the extent that he puts himself at great risk.

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