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The Exchange Student

Name: The Exchange Student
Director: Jim Ben Soussan
Released: 2016
Duration: 86 min

Representation Score

3.5/10

Limited

2016

Director

Jim Ben Soussan

Runtime

86 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film 'The Exchange Student' operates as a conventional coming-of-age comedy centered on adolescent social hierarchies. The narrative explores the friction between perceived status and the disruption caused by an outsider, specifically a Goth exchange student. While the film touches on themes of social alienation and outsiderism, it lacks complexity in addressing multiple aspects of identity. The focus remains on subcultural identity and the struggle for popularity rather than deeper systemic issues.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Exchange Student have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film focuses on the social friction between male students and a German exchange student. It does not include any characters with non-traditional gender identities or narratives that challenge the idea that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does The Exchange Student portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on male adolescent experiences and high school social pressures. It lacks female characters who play a significant role in driving the story or challenge traditional gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Exchange Student?

Fair

An international element is introduced via a German exchange student, suggesting cultural exchange. However, the focus remains on subcultural identity rather than ethnic diversity.

How does The Exchange Student represent religion and culture?

Fair

The plot uses the exchange student cliché to explore cultural integration. It does not present frameworks that critique traditional Western institutions or religious morality.

Does The Exchange Student include disability representation?

Minimal

The narrative contains no mention of characters with visible or invisible disabilities, neurodivergence, or chronic health conditions.

Present on Screen

Explores themes of social alienation and the outsider experience.
Uses the exchange student cliché to introduce international cultural elements.

Limited or Absent

Lacks visible representation of LGBTQ+ identities or narratives that challenge traditional assumptions.
Provides little evidence of female characters who play a significant role in driving the story or the subversion of gender hierarchies.
Focuses on subcultural identity rather than broader racial or ethnic diversity.

Official Synopsis

Malo and Stéphane are two students who are kind of losers and have just started high school. Their plan to become popular: to host a German exchange student with a lot of style. Too bad for Malo, who gets stuck with a Goth who will make his life hell.

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