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Our Century

Name: Our Century
Director: Artavazd Peleshian
Released: 1983
Duration: 50 min

Representation Score

3.9/10

Limited

1983

Director

Artavazd Peleshian

Runtime

50 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Artavazd Peleshian’s *Our Century* succeeds as a global meditation, using poetic montage to disrupt the Western-centric gaze common in historical cinema. By avoiding a single protagonist, the film allows for a democratic distribution of visual presence across diverse global identities. However, the non-narrative, experimental structure limits the film's ability to represent specific identities. The lack of character-driven drama means there is no platform for exploring LGBTQ+ or disability-focused narratives. Ultimately, the work excels in its broad, multi-layered view of human progress and suffering, even if it lacks the individual ability to act needed for higher scores in specific social categories.

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Category Breakdown

Does Our Century have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film's montage-based structure focuses on historical movements rather than personal relationships. There are no specific character arcs or depictions of romantic intimacy.

How does Our Century portray gender?

Fair

The film avoids reinforcing traditional gender hierarchies by focusing on a historical overview. It presents a neutral, historical survey of the human condition.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Our Century?

Excellent

Peleshian presents a non-Anglo-centric view of the 20th century through a vast array of archival footage. The visual tapestry includes a wide range of global faces and ethnic backgrounds.

How does Our Century represent religion and culture?

Good

The film avoids promoting a singular Western morality by framing history through visual metaphors. It emphasizes secular, philosophical inquiry over institutional dogma.

Does Our Century include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not use disability as a central theme. Archival footage may include various human conditions, but it is not used as a specific character-driven plot device.

Present on Screen

Provides a non-Western perspective on the 20th century through diverse archival footage.
Challenges Western-centric historical storytelling with a global visual tapestry.
Uses montage to present humanity as a collective rather than a monolithic entity.

Limited or Absent

Lacks specific character-driven stories to explore LGBTQ+ or disability-focused narratives.
Non-narrative structure prevents the depiction of individual interpersonal dynamics.
Does not actively challenge traditional gender roles through specific character-driven ability to act.

Official Synopsis

A man paves his own way to his own soul through an intellectual quest, tragedies of nations and personal drama. The road moving through the cosmic distances is a flight into one's internal world. This flight and this drama are revealed in this philosophical film-poem.

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