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Don't Tell Her

Name: Don't Tell Her
Director: Solange Cicurel
Released: 2017
Duration: 96 min

Representation Score

5.5/10

Fair

2017

Director

Solange Cicurel

Runtime

96 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Don't Tell Her disrupts patriarchal storytelling by placing the central conflict and resolution within a female-centric sphere. The film's strength lies in its focus on female solidarity and collective decision-making, which grants a significant role in driving the story to the protagonists. However, the film lacks visible multi-layered depth. While the ensemble suggests potential cultural blending, there is no explicit evidence of LGBTQ+ representation or diverse racial casting to bolster its social complexity. Ultimately, the film is a study of female interpersonal dynamics rather than a broad exploration of diverse identities.

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Category Breakdown

Does Don't Tell Her have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on the interpersonal bonds and shared secrets of four female cousins. There is no explicit evidence of LGBTQ+ character arcs or critiques of the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Don't Tell Her portray gender?

Good

The film places the central conflict and resolution within a female-centric sphere, granting a significant role in driving the story to the female protagonists. The plot is driven entirely by the collective intelligence and moral decisions of the female protagonists.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Don't Tell Her?

Fair

The film features names like Anouch and Yaël, suggesting a potentially multi-ethnic or culturally blended ensemble. However, specific details regarding the ethnic composition of the cast are not explicitly provided.

How does Don't Tell Her represent religion and culture?

Good

The story explores situational ethics through the lens of 'lying for love,' prioritizing emotional loyalty and communal bonds over traditional notions of objective honesty and integrity.

Does Don't Tell Her include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no mention of characters navigating physical, neurodivergent, or mental health conditions within the narrative.

Present on Screen

The film centers female solidarity, allowing women to drive the plot through their collective intelligence and moral choices.
It subverts traditional romantic drama clichés by focusing on female solidarity rather than male-centric perspectives.
The narrative explores nuanced, subjective morality through the lens of emotional loyalty and communal bonds.

Limited or Absent

The story lacks explicit LGBTQ+ representation or character arcs to provide greater multi-layered depth.
There is no visible representation of characters navigating physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
The film's focus remains narrow, missing opportunities to showcase a wider range of racial or ethnic identities.

Official Synopsis

Laura, Eve, Anouch and Yaël are four cousins, very different and very endearing, who have one thing in common: they lie, but always for love! When the first three discover a few weeks before their little cousin's wedding that her perfect fiancé is cheating on her, they vote in unison "Don't tell him"!

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