You are here:

The Passerby

Name: The Passerby
Director: Jacques Rouffio
Released: 1982
Duration: 110 min

Representation Score

4.5/10

Fair

1982

Not Rated

Director

Jacques Rouffio

Runtime

110 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film primarily serves as a psychological character study rather than a vehicle for diverse representation. It avoids traditional heroic archetypes by focusing on the breakdown of a reputable man's social standing. While the narrative offers complexity through its exploration of moral relativism and the fragility of social structures, it lacks explicit markers of diverse identities. The focus remains on individual psychological autonomy and romantic obsession. Ultimately, the work provides a moderate level of complexity by deconstructing the 'upright citizen' cliché, even if it operates within the standard romantic and social paradigms of its era.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Passerby have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film focuses on heterosexual romantic tension between the main characters. There is no indication of queer-coded subtext or non-cisgender identities in the story.

How does The Passerby portray gender?

Fair

The story challenges traditional gender roles by highlighting the psychological instability of the male lead. It disrupts the stereotype of the stable, competent patriarch through themes of obsession.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Passerby?

Fair

A Paraguayan ambassador introduces international geopolitical elements to the plot. However, the primary cast and setting remain centered within a European context.

How does The Passerby represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative critiques Western institutional stability by examining the reputation of a human rights advocate. It explores how personal trauma can overshadow established legal and ethical frameworks.

Does The Passerby include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of visible or invisible disabilities. The plot focuses on psychological obsession rather than neurodivergence or physical impairment.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional gender roles by portraying the male lead as psychologically volatile rather than consistently stable.
Introduces global political dynamics through the inclusion of a foreign diplomat.
Explores the tension between personal truth and legal frameworks, challenging Western institutional stability.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or queer-coded subtext.
Maintains a primarily European-centered cast and setting.
Does not feature depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Max Baumstein is a reputable businessman who founded an international organization fighting against violations of human rights. Why would he commit an act that apparently negates the principles he has striven for so long to uphold? As he is tried for first-degree murder for killing a Paraguayan ambassador in cold blood, he reveals a secret about himself that he kept hidden from his wife Lina. His act is the conclusion of a struggle that started many decades earlier in his childhood...

How are these scores produced? →