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Lisbon Story

Name: Lisbon Story
Director: Wim Wenders
Released: 1994
Duration: 100 min

Representation Score

5.6/10

Fair

1994

Director

Wim Wenders

Runtime

100 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Wim Wenders presents a sophisticated, postmodern film that challenges traditional storytelling methods. The film's strongest point is its intentional handling of queer intimacy, showing a romantic storyline that avoids typical tragic or shameful clichés. However, the film's narrow focus on male-centric themes limits its scope. While the exploration of cultural intersection and subjective truth is progressive, the absence of significant female roles restricts the film's gender diversity. Overall, the film stands out as a character-driven exploration of connection and memory, using personal relationships to question conventional notions of truth and objectivity.

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Category Breakdown

Does Lisbon Story have LGBTQ+ representation?

Excellent

The film focuses on the romantic and sexual relationship between Tarquin and Paulo. Their intimacy is central to the exploration of identity rather than being sidelined as a minor subplot.

How does Lisbon Story portray gender?

Fair

The story primarily revolves around male characters, emphasizing the intellectual interactions between two men. This focus leaves little room for significant female roles or ability to act.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Lisbon Story?

Good

The narrative involves a British person living abroad and a Portuguese local. This cross-cultural encounter goes beyond a singular Western perspective through detailed personal connections.

How does Lisbon Story represent religion and culture?

Good

The film successfully embraces postmodern ideas about subjective truth and moral relativism. It prioritizes individual psychological experiences over traditional religious or institutional morals.

Does Lisbon Story include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no major depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities that play central roles or character arcs.

Present on Screen

Focusing on a queer romantic relationship within a sophisticated, self-referential framework.
Avoiding common clichés of shame or tragedy in LGBTQ+ stories.
Taking a nuanced, non-dogmatic stance on cultural and moral relativism.

Limited or Absent

The heavy emphasis on male characters limits female roles and ability to act.
The predominantly European cast narrows the racial diversity.
No significant depiction of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Wim Wenders' homage to Lisbon and films. A sound engineer obtains a mysterious postcard from a friend who at the moment is filming a film in Lisbon. He sets out across Europe to find him and help him.

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