You are here:

Herself

Herself

Representation Score

6.6/10

Good

2020

R

Director

Phyllida Lloyd

Runtime

97 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Herself is a character-driven drama that focuses on a woman's proactive reclamation of her environment. By emphasizing Sandra's ingenuity, the film shifts the domestic narrative from stability to active construction and self-actualization. The film excels in showcasing women's ability to drive the story and communal empowerment. It moves away from traditional institutional reliance, highlighting how collective effort can bypass systemic failures to foster a sense of belonging. While the narrative hints at diverse social structures, specific details regarding racial or LGBTQ+ identities remain unconfirmed. The film's strength lies in its subversion of traditional social roles and its focus on empowering underrepresented individuals.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Herself have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film explores the recovery of self and building of non-traditional communities. Though specific LGBTQ+ identities are not detailed, the narrative suggests a departure from typical straight-centered domestic structures.

How does Herself portray gender?

Excellent

Sandra emerges as a powerful force of change rather than a passive figure. The story highlights female ingenuity and communal labor, challenging the idea that the domestic sphere is a place of subjugation.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Herself?

Good

The film emphasizes building a community that reflects multi-layered solidarity. The narrative structure favors a diverse, collective social unit over the isolated nuclear family model.

How does Herself represent religion and culture?

Good

By prioritizing communal efforts over institutional frameworks, the film critiques standard Western social safety nets. It highlights individual identity and subjective morality through an unconventional, community-led construction project.

Does Herself include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no specific evidence regarding the inclusion of characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

  • Highlights strong women's ability to drive the story and ingenuity.
  • Challenges traditional domestic clichés by centering female labor.
  • Promotes models of communal empowerment and collective action.

Limited or Absent

  • Lacks explicit evidence regarding LGBTQ+ identities.
  • No specific information on disability representation.
  • Casting details for racial and ethnic diversity are unconfirmed.

Official Synopsis

Struggling to provide her daughters with a safe, happy home, Sandra decides to build one - from scratch. Using all her ingenuity to make her ambitious dream a reality, Sandra draws together a community to lend a helping hand to build her house and ultimately recover her own sense of self.

How are these scores produced? →

Where to Watch

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.