You are here:

Story of Night

Name: Story of Night
Director: Clemens Klopfenstein
Released: 1979
Duration: 61 min

Representation Score

2.7/10

Limited

1979

Director

Clemens Klopfenstein

Runtime

61 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Story of Night is a formalist exercise that deconstructs the urban environment by removing the human element entirely. This approach bypasses conventional social hierarchies and traditional character-driven narratives. While the film lacks explicit critiques of multi-layered characters, it offers a subtle critique of Western structural stability through its atmospheric subversion of the 'ordered city.' The diversity present is primarily auditory and structural, using a cross-cultural soundtrack to disrupt a purely Eurocentric experience.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Story of Night have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ identities or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth characters, focusing instead on the environment and mechanical elements.

How does Story of Night portray gender?

Fair

The film emphasizes architectural design and mechanical movement over individual roles, which sidesteps traditional gender hierarchies. However, the lack of human subjects means there is no opportunity to explore gendered dynamics.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Story of Night?

Fair

The film features a pan-European setting and includes reggae music, creating a cross-cultural sonic blend. However, racial dimensions are not explicitly addressed due to the focus on landscapes rather than individuals.

How does Story of Night represent religion and culture?

Fair

The work critiques the romanticization of Western urban progress through a dream-like, eerie lens. An eclectic soundtrack suggests a critique of sterile, organized Western societal structures.

Does Story of Night include disability representation?

Minimal

The documentary focuses on environmental and mechanical elements, with no portrayal of individuals with visible or invisible disabilities.

Present on Screen

The film uses reggae music to create a cross-cultural sonic experience.
It avoids traditional gendered hierarchies by emphasizing architecture over human ability to act.
The work challenges romanticized views of Western urban progress through a postmodern lens.

Limited or Absent

The absence of human subjects prevents any meaningful evaluation of racial or gendered dynamics.
There is no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth characters.
The focus on mechanical and environmental elements excludes disability representation.

Official Synopsis

A black and white documentary which captures nighttime scenes in various European cities.

How are these scores produced? →