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Meltem

Name: Meltem
Director: Basile Doganis
Released: 2019
Duration: 87 min

Representation Score

5.5/10

Fair

2019

Director

Basile Doganis

Runtime

87 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Meltem is a character-driven drama that stands out due to its multi-ethnic cast. By placing characters with diverse North African and Greek backgrounds in a Mediterranean setting, the film avoids the typical Eurocentric perspective often seen in island narratives. The story revolves around a woman dealing with grief, offering a strong foundation for female-led storytelling. However, the film remains fairly conventional, lacking explicit LGBTQ+ themes or disability representation. Overall, the film excels as a study of identity and displacement, using its diverse cast to explore the intersection of urban and Mediterranean landscapes.

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Category Breakdown

Does Meltem have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film doesn't include any explicit mentions of LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight identities. There are no confirmed queer themes present, even though the setting allows for deeper character studies.

How does Meltem portray gender?

Fair

Elena, the female lead, is the emotional and structural center of the story. Her journey focuses on maternal loss and female experiences, shifting away from traditional male-dominated narratives.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Meltem?

Good

The ensemble includes a French woman of Greek descent along with characters from North African and West African backgrounds. This mix of ethnicities breaks the usual homogeneous European travel stories.

How does Meltem represent religion and culture?

Good

The story explores the identity of people living abroad and the tension between urban life and a Mediterranean island setting. It highlights the breakdown of traditional social and class structures.

Does Meltem include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not depict any characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

The film features a diverse cast with various ethnic backgrounds.
It centers on a strong female protagonist, providing a powerful emotional core.
The setting and casting offer a nuanced look at diaspora identity.

Limited or Absent

The film does not explicitly represent LGBTQ+ identities.
There are no characters with disabilities shown in the film.
The narrative does not overtly engage in complex political themes.

Official Synopsis

One year after the death of her mother, Elena, a young French woman of Greek origin, returns to her holiday home on the island of Lesbos. She is accompanied by her friends Nassim and Sekou, two young suburbanites more used to the benches of the city than the paradisiac beaches.

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