You are here:

Manpower

Name: Manpower
Director: Noam Kaplan
Released: 2014
Duration: 88 min

Representation Score

6.0/10

Good

2014

Director

Noam Kaplan

Runtime

88 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Manpower is a social realism drama that uses diverse identities to critique state institutions. Its main strength is in its nuanced portrayal of migration and ethnic blending within a specific geopolitical context. While the film effectively disrupts monolithic storytelling through diverse ethnic casting, it remains limited by a focus on male-centric narratives. Additionally, it lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities and disability-specific storylines, which limits its scope. Overall, the film successfully critiques national stability while emphasizing the struggles of men facing systemic displacement.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Manpower have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film doesn't show LGBTQ+ identities or relationships that aren't focused on straight couples. Instead, it focuses on migration, work, and family displacement.

How does Manpower portray gender?

Fair

The story centers around four men in crisis, but it challenges traditional masculinity by showing a decorated officer struggling with economic problems and systemic failures.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Manpower?

Excellent

The film highlights the complexities of intersectionality by focusing on African migrant workers and an Israeli-Filipino child. These diverse identities bring attention to the tension between ethnic identity and national belonging.

How does Manpower represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The narrative criticizes state institutions and the idea of the nation-state. It explores themes of exile and being uprooted, prioritizing the perspectives of those displaced over traditional patriotism.

Does Manpower include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no specific mention of physical, neurodivergent, or mental health disabilities in the film's depiction of social and economic crises.

Present on Screen

Highlights the complexities of intersectionality through the inclusion of African migrant workers and Israeli-Filipino characters.
Effectively challenges traditional masculinity by showing authority figures as vulnerable and economically unstable.
Strong thematic critique of state institutions, border control, and the concept of national belonging.

Limited or Absent

The narrative structure focuses heavily on male perspectives, limiting the range of gendered viewpoints.
Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-traditional relationship dynamics.
Provides no visible representation or focus on physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

An intelligent social issues drama, Manpower sketches a portrait of four men in crisis. Moving between scathing realism and subtle irony, the film raises questions of belonging and uprooting, exile and emigration, home and family. Meir Cohen is a decorated police officer yet he barely earns a living. His new assignment to deport African migrant workers teaches him that foreigners aren’t the only ones with no future in his country. Other plotlines intertwine with Meir’s story: an Israeli-Filipino boy fighting for recognition; a taxi driver whose children are migrating to a distant country; and a veteran migrant worker who’s forced to decide whether to leave or to hide until trouble passes.

How are these scores produced? →