You are here:

Cleopatra Wong

Name: Cleopatra Wong
Director: Bobby A. Suarez
Released: 1978
Duration: 93 min

Representation Score

7.0/10

Good

1978

Director

Bobby A. Suarez

Runtime

93 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Cleopatra Wong stands out for its intentional centering of non-Western protagonists in leading roles. By focusing on a Singaporean policewoman leading a multi-national investigation, the film avoids the Hollywood-centric paradigms typical of the 1970s. The narrative excels in gender and racial representation, presenting a pan-Asian landscape that prioritizes Southeast Asian identities. This provides a refreshing departure from the Anglo-Saxon-dominated action films of the era. However, the film's impact is limited by a lack of diversity in other areas. The absence of LGBTQ+ and disability representation, combined with standard genre-based moral frameworks, prevents a higher overall score.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Cleopatra Wong have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or non-binary gender identities. It follows the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender, which was common in 1970s action cinema.

How does Cleopatra Wong portray gender?

Excellent

Cleopatra Wong challenges traditional hierarchies as a strong female protagonist. She serves as the main authority and tactical leader, elevating women’s competence over masculine leadership clichés.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Cleopatra Wong?

Excellent

The film features a predominantly Asian cast and setting. It highlights regional ability to act through a pan-Asian collaboration involving Singapore, Hong Kong, and Manila.

How does Cleopatra Wong represent religion and culture?

Fair

The plot explores power dynamics through the depiction of nuns used as forced labor. This introduces moral ambiguity while staying within standard crime genre clichés.

Does Cleopatra Wong include disability representation?

Minimal

Characters are defined by physical prowess or criminal roles rather than disability. There is no portrayal of neurodivergence or physical disability with significant influence.

Present on Screen

Strong gender representation through a highly competent, authoritative female lead.
Robust racial diversity featuring a pan-Asian cast and regional settings.
Disruption of Western-centric action clichés by centering Southeast Asian ability to act.

Limited or Absent

Lack of LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisgender identities.
Minimal representation of characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
Reliance on standard genre-based moral frameworks and clichés.

Official Synopsis

Singapore's top policewoman, Miss Cleopatra Wong, who heads the Seasian Interpol Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D.), teams up with her Filipino counterpart to bust a counterfeit currency operation that threatens several Asian countries with bankruptcy. Their dangerous quest takes them from Singapore to Hong Kong and finally Manila where they locate the counterfeit ring's Asian headquarters, which is being run by local nuns, forced into slave labor.

How are these scores produced? →