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Almost There

Name: Almost There
Director: Dan Rybicky, Aaron Wickenden
Released: 2015
Duration: 85 min

Representation Score

7.2/10

Good

2015

Director

Dan Rybicky, Aaron Wickenden

Runtime

85 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Almost There is a focused character study that prioritizes the lived experience of a underrepresented individual. It succeeds by providing a platform for a non-conforming perspective, specifically through its longitudinal look at an artist's struggle against isolation. However, the film lacks breadth in identity-based representation. It does not offer visible markers of LGBTQ+ or racial diversity, focusing instead on the singular, isolated experience of the protagonist. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its narrative structure, which disrupts conventional expectations of success and social integration to highlight the friction between an individual and established structures.

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Category Breakdown

Does Almost There have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not include any explicit LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. While it explores themes of social alienation, there is no overt representation of non-straight or non-cisgender identities.

How does Almost There portray gender?

Fair

The story focuses on a male protagonist named Peter Anton. While the film touches on elder care and social norms, it lacks strong roles for women who play a significant role in driving the story.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Almost There?

Fair

The setting seems localized and potentially homogeneous. There is no information confirming a multi-ethnic cast or a broad exploration of diverse racial backgrounds.

How does Almost There represent religion and culture?

Good

The film challenges traditional societal structures by centering an outsider artist. It critiques how institutionalized society treats individuals living on the periphery of social norms.

Does Almost There include disability representation?

Good

The documentary provides a complex study of an artist navigating debilitating conditions. It gives real power to the protagonist rather than relying on superficial clichés.

Present on Screen

Provides a nuanced portrayal of an individual navigating physical and environmental limitations.
Challenges traditional social norms by centering an outsider artist on the periphery of society.
Offers a deep, longitudinal study of how isolation and disability intersect with creative identity.

Limited or Absent

Lacks overt representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight narratives.
Shows limited evidence of racial or multi-ethnic diversity within the cast.
The narrative remains heavily centered on a single male perspective.

Official Synopsis

A coming-of-(old)-age story about Peter Anton, an elderly "outsider" artist living in isolated and crippling conditions whose world changes when two filmmakers discover his work and storied past. Shot over eight years, ALMOST THERE documents Anton's first major exhibition and how the controversy it generates forces him to leave his childhood home. Each layer revealed reflects on the intersections of social norms, elder care, and artistic expression.

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