
State of Alabama vs. Brittany Smith
2022

2021
Director
Ryan White
Runtime
104 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetSynopsis
True crime meets global spy thriller in this gripping account of the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the half brother of the North Korean leader. The film follows the trial of the two female assassins, probing the question: were the women trained killers or innocent pawns of North Korea?
Overall Score
Good
Category Breakdown
LGBTQ+ Representation
The film focuses on geopolitical espionage and criminal law rather than queer narratives. It lacks explicit LGBTQ+ identities or intentional queer-coded subtext.
Gender Representation
The narrative centers on female agency within a patriarchal geopolitical landscape. By focusing on the trial of two women, it challenges traditional hierarchies and elevates the female experience.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
The documentary provides visibility into East Asian geopolitics and non-Western political structures. It disrupts Anglo-centric traditions by focusing on North Korean state actors and specific national identities.
Religious & Cultural Diversity
The film critiques Western-centric views of justice through a framework of systemic analysis. It portrays state institutions as corrupt and explores individuals as victims of state-driven machinery.
Disability Representation
There is no discernible evidence regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities within the film's focus.
Strengths
Areas for Improvement
AI Analysis
Assassins is a sophisticated investigative documentary that dismantles state-sanctioned narratives. It shifts the focus from traditional Western spy tropes toward a nuanced examination of how individuals are caught in the gears of global power. The film excels by centering female agency and East Asian political complexities. It moves beyond simple crime reporting to critique the systemic exploitation of marginalized people by authoritarian regimes. While the film lacks LGBTQ+ and disability representation, its strength lies in its deconstruction of institutional authority and its focus on the tension between state coercion and individual autonomy.

2022

2021

2023

2023

2026

2021

2022

2023

2025

2025

2026

2018
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.