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The Dragon Defense

Name: The Dragon Defense
Director: Natalia Santa
Released: 2017
Duration: 80 min

Representation Score

4.7/10

Fair

2017

Director

Natalia Santa

Runtime

80 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film stands out by offering a localized, non-Western perspective rooted in the cultural landscape of Bogotá. It focuses on local institutions and Latin American identities, avoiding the homogeneity of mainstream cinema. However, the narrative architecture is heavily focused on a male triad, resulting in a lack of women's ability to drive the story and limited representation of diverse gender identities or LGBTQ+ perspectives. Ultimately, the film serves as a specialized character study. It prioritizes a deep, culturally specific exploration of aging and the fragility of traditional male roles over broad demographic variety.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Dragon Defense have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not explicitly include LGBTQ+ characters or explore non-straight relationships. While the story of three aging men offers potential for intimate connections, there is no clear evidence of queer representation.

How does The Dragon Defense portray gender?

Fair

The story focuses almost entirely on male characters. Although it may critique traditional masculinity through themes of aging and failure, it lacks significant women's ability to drive the story or challenges to gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Dragon Defense?

Good

Set in downtown Bogotá, the film provides meaningful representation of a non-Western demographic. It centers local identities and institutions, moving away from Anglo-centric storytelling to embrace a Colombian context.

How does The Dragon Defense represent religion and culture?

Good

The story explores themes of subjective morality and questions traditional success. It prioritizes personal truth over institutional stability, critiquing the legacies of capitalism and family traditions.

Does The Dragon Defense include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence regarding the portrayal of physical, neurodivergent, or mental health disabilities within the narrative.

Present on Screen

Strong localized cultural perspective through its Bogotá setting.
Meaningful representation of non-Western, Latin American identities.
Nuanced exploration of aging and the deconstruction of traditional masculinity.

Limited or Absent

Lack of women's ability to drive the story and diverse gender representation.
Absence of explicit LGBTQ+ characters or queer identities.
Limited visibility regarding disability or neurodivergent experiences.

Official Synopsis

Samuel, Joaquín and Marcos, are three old friends living their lives in downtown Bogotá. They spend their days between Lasker – the legendary chess club, The Caribbean Casino, and La Normanda – a traditional coffee shop. Samuel, 53, is a professional chess player that lives of betting on small matches he knows he will win. His best friend is Joaquín, 65, an accomplished watch-maker who’s about to loose the workshop he inherited from his father. And then there’s Marcos, 72, a Spanish homeopath devoted to finding a formula to win poker matches. These three men have found shelter in the safety of their routines, avoiding to facing up to their failures. But a time comes when they are confronted by reality and causes them to stagger.

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