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The Chosen

Name: The Chosen
Director: Jeremy Kagan
Released: 1981
Duration: 107 min

Representation Score

2.9/10

Limited

1981

Director

Jeremy Kagan

Runtime

107 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Chosen is a historically grounded drama that emphasizes ethnic and religious identity over contemporary social constructs. It successfully disrupts Western-centric historical perspectives by focusing on the Jewish experience and the complexities of the British Mandate. However, the film adheres to traditional gender hierarchies and lacks any LGBTQ+ representation. Male characters hold most of the narrative ability to act, while female characters are confined to supportive or domestic roles. Overall, the film's strength lies in its deep engagement with systemic power and anti-colonial resistance, despite maintaining conventional social hierarchies.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Chosen have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses solely on heterosexual and cisgender relationships, with no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender perspectives.

How does The Chosen portray gender?

Limited

Male characters dominate the narrative, especially in religious and political roles. Female characters are primarily seen in domestic or supportive positions.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Chosen?

Good

The film offers meaningful representation of Jewish identity and Middle Eastern ethnic landscapes, highlighting the tensions between Jewish, Arab, and British colonial identities.

How does The Chosen represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative addresses post-colonial themes by depicting the British Mandate as a colonial entity. Religious identity is central to the story's development.

Does The Chosen include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not address neurodivergence, physical disabilities, or mental health conditions, which are absent from the character arcs and thematic development.

Present on Screen

Offers meaningful representation of Jewish identity and Middle Eastern ethnic landscapes.
Challenges Western-centric historical lenses by examining colonial power dynamics.
Engages deeply with post-colonial themes and the moral complexities of resistance.

Limited or Absent

Lacks any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender perspectives.
Maintains traditional gender hierarchies with limited ability to act for female characters.
Does not address neurodivergence, physical disabilities, or mental health conditions.

Official Synopsis

In a 1940s New York, two Jewish teenage boys are determined to remain friends despite the deep differences between their families.

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