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When My Knife Strikes You

Name: When My Knife Strikes You
Director: Krsto Papić
Released: 1968
Duration: 18 min

Representation Score

8.3/10

Excellent

1968

Director

Krsto Papić

Runtime

18 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Krsto Papić’s documentary provides a raw, sociological exploration of senseless violence in rural Yugoslavia. Instead of a conventional crime narrative, it deconstructs social cohesion by interviewing murderers, witnesses, and victims. The film captures the ethnic and regional complexities of the Balkan landscape, rejecting a monolithic state identity in favor of localized, intricate social realities. While it does not feature modern identity-focused representation, its commitment to depicting the volatility of the human condition offers a progressive, observational perspective on a society in flux.

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Category Breakdown

Does When My Knife Strikes You have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The documentary does not include any queer-coded narratives or specific LGBTQ+ character arcs, resulting in a neutral score.

How does When My Knife Strikes You portray gender?

Fair

The film avoids traditional depictions of masculinity and domesticity, presenting a fragmented view of social roles through the lens of village life.

How racially and ethnically diverse is When My Knife Strikes You?

Good

By focusing on various villages, the film highlights the unique identities of the Balkan region, avoiding a uniform view of the Yugoslavian nation.

How does When My Knife Strikes You represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The narrative challenges simple moral binaries by delving into the psychological motivations behind senseless violence, offering a nuanced look at the breakdown of communal order.

Does When My Knife Strikes You include disability representation?

Fair

There is no specific evidence regarding the portrayal of physical disabilities or neurodivergence, resulting in a neutral score.

Present on Screen

Highlights the diverse ethnic tapestry of various Yugoslavian villages.
Rejects monolithic state identities through localized social realities.
Challenges simple moral binaries by exploring the psychological complexity of violence.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation or character arcs related to LGBTQ+ identities.
Does not provide specific evidence regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Shot in various villages throughout Yugoslavia, this is a disturbing document of a time when people were stabbing each other with knives without any real reason. Murderers, people who witness these murders and the families of victims all talk about the senseless violence and the human condition.

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