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The Artist: Reborn

Name: The Artist: Reborn
Director: Kim Kyoung-won
Released: 2017
Duration: 95 min

Representation Score

5.2/10

Fair

2017

Director

Kim Kyoung-won

Runtime

95 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film prioritizes a critique of systemic corruption and the performative nature of success over identity-driven storytelling. It succeeds in challenging traditional gender roles by placing a woman's talent at the center of a male-driven scheme. However, the narrative lacks depth regarding the way different parts of someone's identity overlap. While it offers a non-Western perspective, it remains focused on a specific professional subculture without broader racial or LGBTQ+ representation. Ultimately, the work is a genre-blending crime drama that uses its characters to examine how capitalism manufactures value, rather than to explore diverse lived experiences.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Artist: Reborn have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film focuses on professional exploitation and commercial fraud. It does not include any explicit mention of LGBTQ+ characters or relationships that go beyond the assumption that everyone is straight.

How does The Artist: Reborn portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on a female protagonist whose creative abilities drive the plot. It challenges traditional gender roles by making the male lead's success depend on her talent.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Artist: Reborn?

Fair

As a South Korean production, it provides a non-Western perspective. However, the cast lacks evidence of multi-ethnic diversity, with only one character named James being of a different ethnicity.

How does The Artist: Reborn represent religion and culture?

Good

The story critiques capitalist structures and the commodification of life within the art market. It challenges moral frameworks through a cynical look at institutional corruption.

Does The Artist: Reborn include disability representation?

Minimal

The Lazarus syndrome serves as a plot device for a crime thriller. It does not function as a nuanced exploration of physical or mental disability.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional gender roles by centering female creative abilities.
Provides a non-Western perspective through its South Korean production.
Offers a sharp critique of capitalist commodification and institutional fraud.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or dynamics.
Provides little evidence of multi-ethnic or diverse racial casting.
Uses medical phenomena as a plot device rather than exploring disability.

Official Synopsis

Oh In-sook, who goes by Gisele in the art world, is a failed artist with nothing going for her. During her shift at her part time job, she meets a cunning and canny art sales representative Jae-bum. Jae-bum believes that Gisele has the potential to become a prominent artist and decides to represent her. He and his colleague James, through their ingenious sales efforts, begin to raise the value of Gisele’s paintings, causing Gisele to gain immense fame. As she is ready to bathe in her success, she unexpectedly dies of reasons unknown shocking the art community. Jaebum sees this as an opportunity to hike the prices on his deceased client’s paintings and decides to go all-in in doing so. However, Gisele miraculously gains consciousness like the Lazarus syndrome, denting Jae-bum’s scheme. In order to save his career, Jaebum suggests to Gisele to stay “dead” and aims to strike a deal with her.

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