You are here:

Entangled

Name: Entangled
Director: Lee Don-ku
Released: 2014
Duration: 94 min

Representation Score

7.8/10

Good

2014

Director

Lee Don-ku

Runtime

94 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Entangled is a somber exploration of domestic collapse, moving away from idealized family portrayals. It excels in depicting realistic psychological distress and the complexities of caregiving. While the film lacks LGBTQ+ representation and diverse racial perspectives, it successfully challenges traditional gender roles. The focus on female-driven trauma and the central role of cognitive disability provides a grounded, though intense, narrative experience. Ultimately, the film critiques the traditional family structure, highlighting how systemic issues and illness can push individuals to their limits.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Entangled have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include explicit LGBTQ+ characters or explore non-straight relationships. It focuses on a traditional family structure, emphasizing internal conflicts within the household.

How does Entangled portray gender?

Good

The story centers on the emotional burdens and volatility of women, challenging the nurturing matriarch stereotype. The mother is portrayed as emotionally unstable and troubled.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Entangled?

Fair

As a South Korean production, the film presents a non-Western perspective on family tragedy. It addresses universal themes of grief and familial duty through a localized lens.

How does Entangled represent religion and culture?

Good

The film critiques traditional family ideals, showing the domestic unit as a source of anxiety rather than strength. It questions the sanctity of the home through a realistic, somber portrayal.

Does Entangled include disability representation?

Good

Alzheimer’s disease is a central plot driver, affecting the emotional and social dynamics of the household. The story explores how cognitive decline impacts the family.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional gender roles by focusing on women's emotional struggles.
Presents a realistic, non-idealized view of cognitive disability and its effects.
Provides a culturally specific South Korean perspective on domestic tragedy.

Limited or Absent

Does not include explicit LGBTQ+ characters or explore non-straight relationships.
Focuses on a traditional nuclear family structure, limiting broader perspectives.
Lacks multi-layered racial diversity within the localized setting.

Official Synopsis

ENTANGLED is a tale of irreversible tragedy. There is a house where a family of four live: mother, her eldest daughter Younghee who is married, younger daughter Kkotnip who is in high school and Younghee’s husband Sangho. The family is filled with happiness when Younghee gives birth to a child, but an unfortunate mishap caused by the mother leads to the death of the child. Totally distraught, Younghee decides to leave her mother’s house with her husband. Mother’s Alzheimer’s condition worsens with the couple moving out and Kkotnip is forced to live in anxiety. At school she is pushed around by schoolmate Junghye and at home she has to deal with her mother who has issues of controlling her emotions. With no one to help her, Kkotnip is driven to the edge.

How are these scores produced? →