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Burning Night

Name: Burning Night
Director: Eryk Rocha
Released: 2020
Duration: 96 min

Representation Score

5.7/10

Fair

2020

Director

Eryk Rocha

Runtime

96 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Burning Night presents a gritty, socially realistic portrayal of urban life in Rio de Janeiro. By focusing on the working-class struggle and a man's journey through divorce and financial instability, the film avoids idealized domestic clichés. Its strength lies in its authentic, multi-ethnic setting and its critique of economic structures. However, the film's focus is narrow. The narrative is heavily centered on the male experience, leaving female characters with limited roles. Additionally, the absence of explicit representation for LGBTQ+ identities or characters with disabilities limits its inclusivity. Overall, the film is a compelling study of socioeconomic pressures and loneliness, despite lacking a broad spectrum of identity-based representation.

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Category Breakdown

Does Burning Night have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not include explicit LGBTQ+ characters or themes related to non-straight identities. While the protagonist interacts with various customers, there are no specific storylines involving queer characters.

How does Burning Night portray gender?

Fair

The story focuses on a male protagonist dealing with divorce and emotional vulnerability. Female characters are mainly shown through their relationships to the male lead, particularly as his ex-wife.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Burning Night?

Good

Set in Rio de Janeiro, the film showcases a diverse, multi-ethnic community. It avoids the typical homogeneous casting by featuring a range of ethnicities.

How does Burning Night represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative highlights the struggles of the working class within a capitalist system. It provides a nuanced look at modern social institutions and family breakdown.

Does Burning Night include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature any characters navigating physical, neurodivergent, or mental health disabilities.

Present on Screen

An authentic portrayal of the Brazilian working class and urban socioeconomic realities.
Challenges traditional male clichés through the protagonist's vulnerability and fatigue.
A diverse, multi-ethnic setting reflecting the true social fabric of Rio de Janeiro.

Limited or Absent

Increase the roles and depth of female characters beyond their connections to the male lead.
Include more visibility for LGBTQ+ individuals and diverse sexual identities within the social landscape.
Introduce characters navigating physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Down on his luck and recently divorced, Paulo has begun driving a cab around Rio, hoping he’ll make enough to send his ex money to support their ten-year-old son. He mostly works nights, so in addition to his encounters with a colourful variety of customers, colleagues, cops and others, he must cope with loneliness, fatigue and new faces in his life.

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