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The Little Hours

Name: The Little Hours
Director: Jeff Baena
Released: 2017
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

6.1/10

Good

2017

Director

Jeff Baena

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Little Hours is a subversive comedy that challenges traditional Western religious institutions. It succeeds by overturning gendered expectations of femininity and piety, focusing instead on personal experiences and pleasure. While the film excels in subverting gender hierarchies and religious norms, its demographic scope is limited. The historical setting leads to a lack of racial diversity, which affects its overall score. Ultimately, the film highlights the pursuit of individual freedom over established social and religious structures.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Little Hours have LGBTQ+ representation?

Excellent

The film focuses on female-to-female intimacy and explores non-traditional desires. It uses queer themes to highlight bodily autonomy and non-straight relationships as key drivers for character growth.

How does The Little Hours portray gender?

Excellent

Female characters have strong roles, showcasing intelligence and physical freedom. The convent provides a space for female-led enjoyment rather than strict religious rules.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Little Hours?

Limited

The cast is fairly uniform, reflecting the 14th-century Italian setting. The story avoids casting actors from diverse backgrounds to broaden its scope.

How does The Little Hours represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The plot emphasizes secularism and personal freedom over religious doctrine. It portrays the rejection of religious discipline and sacred vows as a form of comedic empowerment.

Does The Little Hours include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no significant evidence regarding the portrayal of visible or invisible disabilities within the narrative.

Present on Screen

Strong subversion of traditional gender hierarchies and religious expectations.
Focuses on queer ability to act and female-to-female sexual exploration.
Effectively deconstructs institutional norms through a lens of hedonism.

Limited or Absent

Limited racial and ethnic diversity within the cast.
No representation of visible or invisible disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Garfagnana, Italy, 1347. The handsome servant Masseto, fleeing from his vindictive master, takes shelter in a nunnery where three young nuns, Sister Alessandra, Sister Ginevra and Sister Fernanda, try unsuccessfully to find out what their purpose in life is, a conundrum that each of them faces in different ways.

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