You are here:

Cruella

Name: Cruella
Director: Craig Gillespie
Released: 2021
Duration: 134 min

Representation Score

7.2/10

Good

2021

PG-13

Director

Craig Gillespie

Runtime

134 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Cruella is a study in power and subversion, driven by a formidable female-led rivalry. It succeeds in challenging traditional gender hierarchies by placing women at the center of intellectual and creative conflict. However, the film faces challenges in other areas. The cast is largely uniform, reflecting a narrow social stratum that lacks significant racial or ethnic diversity. LGBTQ+ representation is minimal, focusing on persona fluidity rather than queer identity. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its critique of established institutions. It presents a framework of individualistic rebellion and unconventional social bonds as a counterpoint to traditional morality.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Cruella have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The story focuses on heterosexual and cisgender social structures and professional rivalries. While the protagonist explores fluid identities through her Estella and Cruella personas, there is no explicit depiction of same-sex intimacy or non-binary identities.

How does Cruella portray gender?

Excellent

The film highlights women's significant roles and high-stakes professional rivalry. Women hold positions of power and intellect, challenging the idea that female characters are merely secondary or supportive figures.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Cruella?

Limited

The cast remains fairly uniform, reflecting a specific 1970s London fashion scene. The central narrative and main power players lack significant minority representation or diverse casting.

How does Cruella represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The narrative critiques traditional Western hierarchies and the stagnant fashion industry. It emphasizes unconventional social bonds and anti-establishment sentiments, presenting disruptive behavior as a means of liberation from oppressive systems.

Does Cruella include disability representation?

Fair

Engagement with visible or invisible disabilities is limited. The protagonist's psychological shifts are described through personality types rather than a detailed look at neurodivergence or chronic conditions.

Present on Screen

Women play key roles in high-stakes professional rivalry.
Challenges traditional gender hierarchies.
Critiques stagnant institutional hierarchies.
Explores unconventional social bonds.

Limited or Absent

Lacks significant racial and ethnic diversity.
Minimal LGBTQ+ representation.
Limited engagement with disabilities.
Homogeneous casting within the central narrative.

Official Synopsis

In 1970s London amidst the punk rock revolution, a young grifter named Estella is determined to make a name for herself with her designs. She befriends a pair of young thieves who appreciate her appetite for mischief, and together they are able to build a life for themselves on the London streets. One day, Estella’s flair for fashion catches the eye of the Baroness von Hellman, a fashion legend who is devastatingly chic and terrifyingly haute. But their relationship sets in motion a course of events and revelations that will cause Estella to embrace her wicked side and become the raucous, fashionable and revenge-bent Cruella.

How are these scores produced? →