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The President

Name: The President
Director: Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Released: 2014
Duration: 115 min

Representation Score

8.1/10

Excellent

2014

Director

Mohsen Makhmalbaf

Runtime

115 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Mohsen Makhmalbaf’s film is a profound piece of political satire that excels in its cultural and ethnic authenticity. By centering a Middle Eastern context and a non-Western cast, it successfully challenges the dominance of Anglo-centric storytelling. The film's strength lies in its ability to deconstruct the spectacle of authority through a post-colonial lens. However, the film remains limited in its exploration of identity beyond the political sphere. The narrative is heavily male-dominated, focusing on the relationship between a dictator and his grandson, which leaves little room for women's ability to drive the story or gender subversion. Ultimately, while the film lacks specific representation for LGBTQ+ or disabled characters, its intellectual depth and cultural specificity make it a significant work of political commentary.

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Category Breakdown

Does The President have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not include explicit LGBTQ+ narratives or characters with diverse gender identities. The story focuses on the political journey of the protagonist and his grandson.

How does The President portray gender?

Fair

The narrative centers on male figures, particularly the former dictator and the child. While it critiques patriarchal structures, it does so through a male-centric lens.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The President?

Excellent

The film authentically represents Middle Eastern and North African identities. The non-Western cast and Caucasus setting challenge Anglo-centric storytelling without relying on including someone from a minority group without giving them real depth.

How does The President represent religion and culture?

Excellent

This work offers a sophisticated critique of institutional power from a post-colonial perspective. It questions Western-style democratic models and portrays traditional political institutions as inherently flawed or corrupt.

Does The President include disability representation?

Fair

No prominent characters with visible or invisible disabilities serve as central plot devices. The film prioritizes the psychological failings of political systems over individual physical experiences.

Present on Screen

Authentic representation of Middle Eastern and North African cultures through a non-Western cast.
Sophisticated critique of Western-style democratic models and political authority.
Effective use of allegory to challenge the sanctity of state institutions.

Limited or Absent

Limited focus on women's ability to drive the story or gender subversion.
Absence of LGBTQ+ narratives or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth identities.
Minimal focus on individual physical or neurodivergent experiences.

Official Synopsis

The President is the story of a dictator of an imaginary country in the Caucasus, who is forced to escape following a coup d’état, and begins a journey to discover his country in the company of his five-year-old grandson. The two travel across the lands that the President once governed. Now, disguised as a street musician to avoid being recognized, the former dictator comes into contact with his people, which he comes to know from a different point of view.

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