You are here:

Perlasca: The Courage of a Just Man

Name: Perlasca: The Courage of a Just Man
Director: Alberto Negrin
Released: 2002
Duration: 126 min

Representation Score

3.0/10

Limited

2002

Director

Alberto Negrin

Runtime

126 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Perlasca: The Courage of a Just Man is a biographical drama centered on the moral transformation of Giorgio Perlasca. The film successfully portrays systemic resistance, using the protagonist's shift from a Fascist supporter to a humanitarian protector to critique totalitarianism. However, the film's scope is narrow regarding social identity. It adheres strictly to the period's gender norms and lacks representation for LGBTQ+ individuals or people with disabilities, which limits its overall diversity profile. Ultimately, the work finds its strength in the intersection of Italian, Spanish, and Hungarian identities. It uses these cultural layers to explore how an individual can navigate and subvert oppressive state systems to protect underrepresented populations.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Perlasca: The Courage of a Just Man have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. It focuses solely on the geopolitical and humanitarian issues of the 1940s.

How does Perlasca: The Courage of a Just Man portray gender?

Limited

The story follows the social hierarchy of the 1940s, emphasizing male political leadership. While it shows the impact of war on domestic life, it does not challenge traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Perlasca: The Courage of a Just Man?

Good

The film offers meaningful representation of the Jewish community facing deportation. It highlights the vulnerability of this minority group against the occupying Nazi forces.

How does Perlasca: The Courage of a Just Man represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film critiques Western institutional failures and corrupt political structures. It celebrates individual conscience and the subversion of state-mandated morality as a humanitarian necessity.

Does Perlasca: The Courage of a Just Man include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no focus on visible or invisible disabilities within the narrative.

Present on Screen

Provides meaningful representation of the Jewish community under threat during the Holocaust.
Offers a sophisticated critique of Fascist and Nazi institutional corruption.
Explores complex intersections of Italian, Spanish, and Hungarian identities through the protagonist.

Limited or Absent

Lacks any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight relationships.
Adheres to traditional 1940s gender hierarchies without challenging them.
Contains no discernible focus on disability representation.

Official Synopsis

It is the real story of Giorgio Perlasca (Luca Zingaretti). During the 1920s he was an Italian Fascist supporter, fighting in Africa an in the Spanish civil war where he deserved a safe conduct for Spanish embassies. After some years, disillusioned by fascism, he is a fresh supplier for the Italian army. In the war years he is in Budapest for his business. He lives an easy life there, well introduced into the Hungarian high society, without any problem coming from the war situation. When the Nazi occupied Hungary, in 1944, instead to leave (Italy had already surrendered to the Allies) he escaped to the Spanish embassy in Budapest using his old safe conduct and becoming a Spanish citizen, changing name into Jorge Perlasca. He starts working as a diplomat here. When Sanz Briz (Geza Tordy), the Spanish consul, is removed, Perlasca immediately substitutes him, like if he was officially appointed from Spanish authorities... Written by 1felco

How are these scores produced? →