You are here:

Staff Only

Name: Staff Only
Director: Neus Ballús
Released: 2019
Duration: 85 min

Representation Score

6.4/10

Good

2019

Director

Neus Ballús

Runtime

85 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Staff Only is a character-driven drama that uses its African resort setting to explore systemic social tensions. It succeeds by moving beyond traditional Western-centric travel narratives to examine the intersection of race, labor, and class. The film's strength lies in its subversion of the 'tourist' gaze, providing depth through the relationship between a Western traveler and a local professional. It also offers a strong female-led perspective that navigates complex social hierarchies. However, the film lacks explicit LGBTQ+ representation and does not feature characters with documented disabilities. The narrative remains primarily focused on the protagonist's internal world and her immediate familial dysfunction.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Staff Only have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film centers on interpersonal tension and familial isolation rather than queer identity. There is no explicit depiction of non-straight relationships or specific LGBTQ+ character's ability to drive the story.

How does Staff Only portray gender?

Good

A female protagonist drives the psychological tension through her observational role. The story challenges the stereotype of female passivity by focusing on her perspective within patriarchal familial structures.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Staff Only?

Good

The narrative fosters meaningful cross-cultural interaction through the protagonist's connection with Khouma, a Senegalese cameraman. This challenges typical tourist clichés by centering a local professional.

How does Staff Only represent religion and culture?

Good

The film critiques global tourism by highlighting the socioeconomic disparity between vacationers and service workers. It avoids idealized Western family structures in favor of more nuanced domestic tension.

Does Staff Only include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no documented evidence regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities in this work.

Present on Screen

Strong subversion of the tourist cliché through meaningful cross-cultural interaction.
Nuanced exploration of socioeconomic disparity and the working class.
A central female perspective that provides observational ability to act and psychological depth.

Limited or Absent

Lack of explicit LGBTQ+ representation or queer character's ability to drive the story.
No visible representation of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Marta, a 17-year-old girl, is on holiday in an African resort with her with her estranged dad and annoying little brother. Martha’s fascination for Khouma, a Senegalese cameraman who works filming the tourists' excursions, will add even more tension to her already troubled relationship with her father.

How are these scores produced? →