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People, Places, Things

Name: People, Places, Things
Director: Jim Strouse
Released: 2015
Duration: 85 min

Representation Score

3.1/10

Limited

2015

Director

Jim Strouse

Runtime

85 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Jim Strouse creates a quiet, character-driven exploration of domestic realism. The film stands out for its empathetic and respectful treatment of dementia, presenting it with gravity and dignity rather than as a simple plot device. However, the film remains deeply conventional in its social structure, emphasizing the emotional lives of a specific, homogeneous demographic while largely ignoring the complexities of diverse identities and perspectives. Overall, while the film offers a meaningful look at familial bonds and memory, it operates within established social norms without intentionally disrupting traditional Western storytelling methods.

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Category Breakdown

Does People, Places, Things have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on traditional heterosexual relationships and family structures, without including any non-cisgender identities or critiques of traditional heterosexuality.

How does People, Places, Things portray gender?

Fair

The story delves into the emotional vulnerability of the male protagonist through his struggles with fatherhood, but it stays within traditional gender roles without challenging those hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is People, Places, Things?

Limited

The film primarily features a homogeneous demographic centered around a middle-class, small-town American setting, without incorporating diverse racial perspectives.

How does People, Places, Things represent religion and culture?

Limited

The film adheres to traditional Western storytelling conventions and focuses on Midwestern life without offering explicit critiques of Western culture or moral relativism.

Does People, Places, Things include disability representation?

Fair

The film presents a respectful and detailed portrayal of dementia, focusing on the experiences of both the patient and the caregiver.

Present on Screen

Offers a nuanced and respectful portrayal of dementia and the lived experience of cognitive decline.
Explores the emotional vulnerability of the male protagonist, challenging traditional masculine stereotypes.

Limited or Absent

Focuses on a homogeneous demographic, lacking racial and ethnic diversity.
Does not include LGBTQ+ identities or offer any critique of traditional heterosexual relationships.
Adheres to traditional Western storytelling conventions without broader social or cultural critiques.

Official Synopsis

Will Henry is a newly single graphic novelist balancing being a parent to his young twin daughters and teaching a classroom full of college students, all the while trying to navigate the rich complexities of new love and letting go of the woman who left him.

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