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There Is No Evil

Name: There Is No Evil
Director: Mohammad Rasoulof
Released: 2020
Duration: 151 min

Representation Score

8.5/10

Excellent

2020

Director

Mohammad Rasoulof

Runtime

151 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Mohammad Rasoulof’s anthology film is a sophisticated critique of systemic oppression and institutionalized power. It centers the lived realities of individuals fighting against a rigid, masculine-coded legal system. The film’s strength lies in its refusal to adhere to Western aesthetic standards, instead offering a deeply localized and culturally specific perspective. However, the work is limited by its narrow focus on moral and legal crises. The absence of explicit LGBTQ+ identities and disability representation prevents a more inclusive score. While these themes may exist as subtext within the oppressive setting, they are not given significant roles. Ultimately, the film is a powerful assertion of individual ability to act. It challenges conventional morality by framing survival-driven defiance as a valid response to corrupt state machinery.

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Category Breakdown

Does There Is No Evil have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include explicit LGBTQ+ characters or visible same-sex relationships. However, the oppressive social environment suggests the presence of suppressed identities, though these themes remain purely implied rather than central to the story.

How does There Is No Evil portray gender?

Good

Female characters face systemic constraints and often serve as the moral compass. The film highlights the tension between domestic expectations and survival, effectively challenging patriarchal hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is There Is No Evil?

Good

This Iranian production offers a necessary departure from Hollywood-centric norms. It uses specific socioeconomic backgrounds to assert cultural specificity and ethnic depth through a non-Western cast.

How does There Is No Evil represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film provides a profound critique of state authority and religious legalism. It portrays defiance of social taboos as a necessary tool for survival, championing moral relativism.

Does There Is No Evil include disability representation?

Fair

There is no prominent or agentic portrayal of physical or invisible disabilities. The narrative focuses on the psychological weight of legal crises rather than exploring neurodivergence.

Present on Screen

Profound deconstruction of state authority and religious legalism.
Strong cultural specificity that avoids Western-centric demographic norms.
Effective portrayal of women navigating and challenging patriarchal constraints.

Limited or Absent

Lack of explicit or agentic LGBTQ+ characterization.
Absence of visible or invisible disability representation.
Limited exploration of neurodivergence or physical disability within the narrative.

Official Synopsis

Set against the backdrop of Iran's strict and oppressive legal system, this anthology film tells the stories of four men who each face a moral crisis when having to deal with death penalties.

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