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Second Name

Name: Second Name
Director: Paco Plaza
Released: 2002
Duration: 93 min

Representation Score

6.0/10

Good

2002

Director

Paco Plaza

Runtime

93 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Second Name is a psychological thriller that prioritizes the deconstruction of traditional stability over broad demographic representation. It succeeds in challenging the sanctity of religious and familial institutions by presenting them as sources of mystery and violence. The film's strength lies in its narrative structure, which challenges conventional views of religion and family. However, the focus remains narrow, primarily exploring patriarchal and Western social structures without broader inclusive casting or character development.

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Category Breakdown

Does Second Name have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include explicit evidence of LGBTQ+ characters or identities that challenge straight-centered assumptions. The story centers on the protagonist's biological and patriarchal heritage.

How does Second Name portray gender?

Fair

Daniella is a strong female lead who drives the investigation. The film challenges traditional maternal roles by depicting her mother in a state of catatonia and institutional care.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Second Name?

Limited

The story follows a typical Western dramatic structure, focusing on local social structures without showing a diverse racial cast.

How does Second Name represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative presents a critical view of religious authority, portraying a fanatical sect as a source of fear. It depicts established social institutions as sites of trauma.

Does Second Name include disability representation?

Fair

Mental illness and chronic health conditions, such as the mother's catatonia and the priest's diabetes, play key roles in the plot. These elements contribute to the film's tense atmosphere.

Present on Screen

Features a strong female protagonist who drives the central investigation.
Challenges traditional maternal roles through the depiction of dysfunction.
Critiques religious and familial institutions in a sophisticated manner.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-traditional characters.
Focuses on a narrow Western social framework with limited racial diversity.
Uses disability and mental illness primarily as plot devices for tension.

Official Synopsis

After the suicide of her beloved father, the biologist Daniella Logan visits her catatonic mother in a mental institution to tell the tragic event and her mother calls her "Josephine". Daniella goes to the cemetery and finds that her father's grave had been opened and his corpse was profaned. She decides to investigate, and receives a message of a diabetic priest, Father Elias, who tells her about an ancient fanatic religious sect of followers of Abraham that kills the first child. Later, she meets a weird man, Toby Harris, who claims to be his legitimate father. Daniella continues seeking the truth about her origins and discloses very dark secrets about her family and friends.

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