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August the First

Name: August the First
Director: Lanre Olabisi
Released: 2007
Duration: 81 min

Representation Score

7.7/10

Good

2007

Director

Lanre Olabisi

Runtime

81 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

August the First is a character-driven drama that centers on diverse familial experiences within a typical American setting. By featuring a non-Anglo-Saxon family unit, the film challenges traditional Western domestic narratives. The film’s strength lies in its intentional casting and its exploration of complex themes of reconciliation and estrangement. However, the film lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities and disability, and the narrative remains focused on specific generational conflicts.

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Category Breakdown

Does August the First have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The story focuses on the reunion of a biological father and son, with no explicit mention of LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight relationships.

How does August the First portray gender?

Fair

The film explores family dynamics through a cast that includes female actors like Joy Merriweather and Kerisse Hutchinson, suggesting that gendered power dynamics play a significant role.

How racially and ethnically diverse is August the First?

Good

The film centers on a non-Anglo-Saxon family unit through its casting and direction. This disrupts the conventional depiction of the American suburban experience as a monolithically white space.

How does August the First represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story examines the tension between traditional family values and personal estrangement, offering a realistic look at how families deal with past trauma.

Does August the First include disability representation?

Fair

The synopsis provides no information about characters with visible or invisible disabilities, focusing instead on interpersonal and generational conflicts.

Present on Screen

The film intentionally centers a diverse family unit, providing racial representation.
It offers a realistic exploration of family dynamics and the complexities of reconciliation.
The casting disrupts monolithic depictions of the American suburban experience.

Limited or Absent

There is a lack of explicit representation for LGBTQ+ identities.
The narrative does not address disability or neurodivergent themes.
The focus on specific generational conflict limits broader social representation.

Official Synopsis

When Tunde's family throws him a graduation party at their homestead in New Jersey, little do they know that he's arranged for his long-estranged father to also attend. Will the reunion prove to be healing … or simply heated? Director Lanre Olabisi's heartfelt drama of family dynamics stars Ian Alsup, Dennis Rubin Green, Joy Merriweather, Sean Phillips and Kerisse Hutchinson.

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