You are here:

David and Goliath

Name: David and Goliath
Director: Richard Pottier, Ferdinando Baldi
Released: 1960
Duration: 103 min

Representation Score

2.0/10

Limited

1960

Director

Richard Pottier, Ferdinando Baldi

Runtime

103 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

This biblical epic functions as a traditional historical drama that upholds established social and religious hierarchies. The narrative is built around classic moral binaries, focusing on the combat roles of David and Saul. While the international co-production offers a Mediterranean aesthetic, the film does not engage with multi-layered identities. It adheres strictly to religious archetypes and gender roles expected of 1960s cinema standards. Overall, the film upholds conventional power structures without challenging them, providing a typical representation of mid-century religious storytelling.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does David and Goliath have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film follows a traditional framework that assumes everyone is straight and cisgender. There are no non-cisgender identities or same-sex relationships shown.

How does David and Goliath portray gender?

Limited

The story focuses on masculine leadership and combat roles. Female characters are mostly in supporting roles, often defined by family or devotion.

How racially and ethnically diverse is David and Goliath?

Limited

The casting reflects a Mediterranean look typical of mid-century European productions. It doesn't include intentional ethnic diversity or challenge period visual clichés.

How does David and Goliath represent religion and culture?

Minimal

The story presents a single religious morality centered on divine righteousness. It emphasizes traditional Western religious institutions without exploring moral relativism.

Does David and Goliath include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities. The focus remains on the physical strength and divine favor of the main character.

Present on Screen

The international co-production avoids a purely Anglo-Saxon casting by using Mediterranean-adjacent actors.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender gender expressions.
Gender roles are very restrictive, focusing almost entirely on masculine leadership and combat.
There is a noticeable absence of characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
The narrative reinforces a single religious worldview without exploring diverse cultural perspectives.

Official Synopsis

When the Philistines attack, the Israelites are hopeless against the fierce giant Goliath and don't know what to do. King Saul takes the advice of the prophets and sends an adolescent shepherd, David, into battle to conquer the oversized Philistine. David is victorious and becomes the King of Israel.

How are these scores produced? →