
The Monopoly on Violence
2020

2020
Director
David Dufresne
Runtime
86 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetSynopsis
As anger and resentment grow in the face of social inequalities, many citizens-led protests are being repressed with an ever-increasing violence. In this documentary, David Dufresne gathers a panel of citizens to question, exchange and confront their views on the social order and the legitimacy of the use of force by the State.
Overall Score
Fair
Category Breakdown
LGBTQ+ Representation
The film does not center queer identities or narratives as a primary theme. While diverse bodies appear in protest footage, there is no specific emphasis on non-cisnormative identities.
Gender Representation
Gendered dynamics appear within archival protest footage, but the film largely bypasses traditional hierarchies. It treats protesters and police as institutional roles rather than gendered ones.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
The documentary excels by examining racialized policing through movements like Black Lives Matter. It effectively uses the lived experiences of people of color to critique systemic inequality.
Religious & Cultural Diversity
The film offers a sharp critique of Western institutions and capitalist power structures. It frames state-sanctioned violence as a tool used to maintain order against civil disobedience.
Disability Representation
The documentary lacks a dedicated analysis of physical disability or neurodivergence. While it touches on socioeconomic disparities, it provides little specific agency to characters with disabilities.
Strengths
Areas for Improvement
AI Analysis
The Monopoly of Violence is a sophisticated sociological inquiry that prioritizes systemic critique over individual identity politics. It succeeds most prominently when examining the intersection of state power and racialized communities, using global protest footage to highlight institutionalized oppression. However, the film's focus on macro-level power dynamics results in a lack of depth regarding specific identity-based movements. Gender and LGBTQ+ narratives are largely sidelined in favor of analyzing the relationship between the State and the Citizen. Ultimately, the film is a powerful tool for deconstructing Western authority, though it misses opportunities to explore how disability and gendered power imbalances specifically influence the mechanics of state violence.

2020

2014

2019

2017

2023

2016

2003

2005

2021

2009

2017

2016
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!
Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.