You are here:
The Bones

The Bones

2023

Director

Cristóbal León, Joaquín Cociña

Runtime

14 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Using human corpses and invoking the spirits of two damned Secretaries of State, a girl performs a ritual to free the kingdom of Chile from its feudal heritage.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.9/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film lacks explicit depictions of LGBTQ+ identities or romantic orientations. However, its focus on non-normative body horror and surrealist animation suggests a narrative space that operates outside traditional heteronormative frameworks.

Gender Representation

Good

A female protagonist serves as the central driver of the story. She possesses significant agency, performing a transformative ritual to dismantle systemic structures rather than adhering to passive feminine tropes.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

The film prioritizes a South American perspective by centering a Chilean narrative. It addresses the nation's feudal heritage, elevating specific regional identity over homogenized globalized media perspectives.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The narrative deconstructs colonial institutions by framing feudal heritage as a burden to be exorcised. It uses anti-colonial themes to challenge traditional authority and Western power structures.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is insufficient evidence to determine if the use of human remains and grotesque imagery constitutes meaningful disability representation or is strictly a horror aesthetic.

Strengths

  • Strong focus on Chilean regional identity and South American perspectives.
  • Subverts traditional gender tropes by giving the female protagonist significant agency.
  • Engages with anti-colonial and anti-authoritarian themes through ritualistic storytelling.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or romantic orientations.
  • Provides insufficient evidence regarding the representation of disability.
  • The abstract animation style makes specific demographic visibility difficult to assess.

AI Analysis

The Bones is a surrealist horror film that uses avant-garde animation to critique historical power dynamics. It succeeds in centering a specific Chilean identity and subverting colonial hierarchies through its narrative architecture. The film's strength lies in its thematic commitment to decolonization. By positioning a female protagonist as the agent of political and historical change, it disrupts conventional power structures and traditional gender tropes. However, the abstract nature of the medium makes explicit demographic representation difficult to quantify. The lack of overt LGBTQ+ identities and unclear disability representation prevents a higher score despite the progressive themes.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.