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Five Dates

Name: Five Dates
Director: Paul Raschid
Released: 2020
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

8.1/10

Excellent

2020

Director

Paul Raschid

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Five Dates offers a progressive approach to the romantic comedy genre by featuring a Black British protagonist and a diverse cast. This approach successfully avoids the typical white-centric norms, presenting a realistic multicultural urban setting. The film also challenges traditional gender dynamics by portraying female characters as autonomous individuals who actively participate in the story. This ensures that the women are not just supporting characters but have their own choices. However, the film remains within conventional boundaries regarding LGBTQ+ and disability representation. It focuses on heterosexual relationships and neurotypical experiences, missing opportunities to explore a broader range of identities and experiences.

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Category Breakdown

Does Five Dates have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The story centers on heterosexual relationships and lacks narratives involving non-binary genders. However, it avoids using harmful stereotypes or derogatory clichés.

How does Five Dates portray gender?

Good

Female characters play significant roles in driving the plot and have distinct emotional journeys. They are not passive and instead actively engage in conversations.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Five Dates?

Excellent

The film highlights a Black British protagonist in a multicultural environment. This choice avoids reinforcing white-centric norms and feels natural within the urban context.

How does Five Dates represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative embraces a secular perspective, focusing on personal morality and individual connections. It steers clear of traditional religious frameworks.

Does Five Dates include disability representation?

Fair

There is no prominent depiction of visible or invisible disabilities. Characters are portrayed as neurotypical professionals navigating pandemic-era social anxieties.

Present on Screen

Features a Black British protagonist to avoid typical genre norms.
Female characters are shown as independent individuals who play a significant role in driving the story.
Diverse casting feels natural within the urban setting.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit LGBTQ+ representation or non-cisgender narratives.
No visible or invisible disability representation among the characters.
Adheres to traditional heterosexual romantic structures.

Official Synopsis

Vinny, a millennial from London, joins a dating app for the first time while living in lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic. With five potential female matches, Vinny must pluck up courage to video date with wildly different personalities, starring Mandip Gill and Georgia Hirst. The viewer’s choices will define Vinny’s interactions with each date and their interest in seeing him again. Amidst a branching, multi-directional chain of conversation topics and deep-dive questions, Vinny is faced with digital game dates, awkward scenarios and unexpected truths. Five Dates is an exploration of the unpredictable modern dating experience, which follows an average single man as he navigates the world of digital dating. Through his journey, the decisions the viewer makes for him will challenge their own conceptions of attraction and compatibility.

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