You are here:
Raising the Bar

Raising the Bar

2017

Not Rated

Director

Clay Glen

Runtime

93 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

16-year-old Kelly quits an elite gymnastics program and moves to Australia. To help out a new friend and show up an old rival she re-enters competitive gymnastics, she'll have to find a way to move forward while making amends with her past.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

4.2/10

Fair


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film follows a traditional coming-of-age trajectory centered on athletic rivalry. There are no visible queer romantic subplots or non-cisnormative gender identities present in the narrative.

Gender Representation

Fair

Kelly serves as a strong female protagonist who reclaims her autonomy by leaving an elite program. While she demonstrates significant agency, the story stays within conventional sports-drama tropes.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The Australian setting offers potential for multiculturalism, yet the story focuses heavily on localized personal rivalries. The narrative appears to lean toward a more homogeneous representation.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

Themes of redemption and making amends reinforce standard social values and moral frameworks. The plot emphasizes individual responsibility and discipline rather than challenging Western institutional norms.

Disability Representation

Minimal

The film does not feature characters with visible or invisible disabilities. The plot remains strictly focused on the physical requirements of competitive gymnastics.

Strengths

  • Provides a central female protagonist with clear agency and autonomy.
  • Explores themes of personal growth, discipline, and making amends.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks intersectional complexity or diverse identity representation.
  • Relies on traditional, homogeneous narrative structures and tropes.

AI Analysis

Raising the Bar is a conventional character study that prioritizes personal resilience over social complexity. While the film provides a platform for female agency through Kelly's journey, it operates within a very traditional framework. The narrative lacks intersectional depth, focusing instead on a standard redemption arc. It adheres to established family-drama tropes that favor individual growth over systemic critique or diverse social perspectives. Ultimately, the film functions as a straightforward sports drama. It succeeds in portraying personal perseverance but misses opportunities to engage with broader cultural or identity-based nuances.

How are these scores produced? →

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.