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Capsule

Name: Capsule
Director: Andrew Martin
Released: 2016
Duration: 91 min

Representation Score

3.4/10

Limited

2016

TV-14

Director

Andrew Martin

Runtime

91 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Capsule is a traditional period thriller that relies heavily on established masculine archetypes. The story uses the constraints of science fiction and history to explore geopolitical tensions through a singular, individualist lens. While the film introduces elements of a broader geopolitical narrative by including Soviet communication, it remains grounded in the historical context of 1959. The narrative structure prioritizes survival within existing power structures rather than challenging them. Ultimately, the film serves as a character study of resilience and intelligence within a traditional framework, offering limited disruption to established social hierarchies.

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Category Breakdown

Does Capsule have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film centers around a single male protagonist in a survival scenario. There are no characters with non-traditional gender identities or critiques of the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Capsule portray gender?

Limited

The story emphasizes traditional gender roles by focusing on a male fighter pilot. It relies on conventional ideas of male leadership without giving women significant roles in driving the story.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Capsule?

Fair

Set during the Cold War, the film includes characters from the UK, US, and Soviet Union. While the main character is British, the inclusion of Soviet communication hints at a broader geopolitical scope beyond just Anglo-centric views.

How does Capsule represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative shifts away from a purely patriotic theme by having the protagonist navigate between different global powers. This creates room for moral ambiguity regarding Cold War ideologies.

Does Capsule include disability representation?

Minimal

The protagonist faces a temporary medical issue due to low oxygen levels. There is no representation of disability as a central identity or experience.

Present on Screen

The inclusion of Soviet communication suggests a geopolitical narrative that moves beyond a purely Anglo-centric perspective.
The survival-based ethics provide a potential critique of binary Cold War ideologies.

Limited or Absent

The film relies on conventional masculine leadership clichés and lacks significant women's ability to drive the story.
The narrative lacks representation of non-traditional gender identities or diverse social structures.
The protagonist's medical crisis is treated as a plot device rather than a representation of disability.

Official Synopsis

1959: Guy is an experienced British fighter pilot who is in command of Britain's first manned mission to space. He has trained for this for three years at the height of the Cold War and now he is alone in space, suffering Hypoxia, with a malfunctioning capsule. He has limited contact with the UK, some unusual communication with the US and some unorthodox communication with Tyuratam deep in Soviet Russia. Can he get home? Who will help him? Will he make the right choice?

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