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The Serpent's Kiss

The Serpent's Kiss

Representation Score

5.0/10

Fair

1997

R

Director

Philippe Rousselot

Runtime

104 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film is a period-specific psychological drama that gains depth through the deconstruction of reality and gendered expectations. It succeeds in portraying a complex female protagonist who resists traditional submissive roles. However, the film lacks diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, and LGBTQ+ identities. The setting and casting keep the narrative within a narrow, homogeneous social sphere. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its psychological complexity rather than its social inclusiveness.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Serpent's Kiss have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film follows a traditional framework that assumes everyone is straight or cisgender. There is no representation of same-sex relationships or non-traditional gender identities.

How does The Serpent's Kiss portray gender?

Fair

The protagonist challenges the passive expectations of Victorian-era women. She demonstrates significant psychological strength and intellectual resilience while dealing with her partner's volatility.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Serpent's Kiss?

Minimal

The cast is primarily white and Anglo-Saxon, reflecting the social dynamics of 19th-century England. It presents a homogeneous view of European social classes.

How does The Serpent's Kiss represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative explores moral ambiguity and subjective truth. It focuses on the obsessive behavior of a character rather than critiquing institutional structures.

Does The Serpent's Kiss include disability representation?

Good

Mental health issues play a central role in the plot. The film avoids mocking or inspirational stories, focusing instead on the disruptive impact of psychological instability.

Present on Screen

  • Challenges traditional gender hierarchies with a strong, psychologically active female protagonist.
  • Provides a nuanced depiction of mental health that avoids common clichés like mockery or inspiration porn.
  • Explores the subjective nature of truth and madness, challenging objective morality.

Limited or Absent

  • Remains confined to a homogeneous Anglo-Saxon cast, lacking racial and ethnic diversity.
  • Does not represent LGBTQ+ identities or non-traditional gender expressions.
  • Does not engage with broader institutional or anti-capitalist critiques.

Official Synopsis

A man sends a young architect to build an extravagant garden to bankrupt the husband of the woman he once loved.

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