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This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection

Name: This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection
Director: Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese
Released: 2020
Duration: 120 min

Representation Score

4.8/10

Fair

2020

Not Rated

Director

Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese

Runtime

120 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

This film stands as a significant work of decolonial cinema. It achieves its impact by avoiding Western narrative structures and using magical realism to validate indigenous cosmologies. The work effectively disrupts traditional cinematic hierarchies by centering an elderly Black woman as the primary agent of resistance. This shift reclaims ability to act for communities facing systemic displacement. While the film excels in racial and cultural authenticity, it lacks engagement with LGBTQ+ narratives or specific depictions of disability.

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Category Breakdown

Does This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include explicit LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisgender identities. It focuses on emotional depth without using queer-coded subtext.

How does This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection portray gender?

Good

The narrative challenges patriarchal structures by centering an elderly woman's role in driving change. She is not a passive figure but a catalyst for community transformation.

How racially and ethnically diverse is This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection?

Excellent

The film features an all-Black, indigenous cast that reflects the unique cultural landscape of Lesotho. It avoids the Western perspective by highlighting local identities.

How does This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection represent religion and culture?

Excellent

Indigenous spiritual practices and communal bonds are emphasized over formal religion. Magical realism is used to explore cycles of life and death.

Does This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of visible or invisible disabilities used as central plot devices within the narrative.

Present on Screen

Features an all-Black, indigenous cast reflecting the unique cultural landscape of Lesotho.
Subverts patriarchal norms by centering the intellectual and spiritual strength of an elderly female protagonist.
Uses magical realism to prioritize indigenous spiritualities and explore cycles of life and death.

Limited or Absent

Does not include explicit LGBTQ+ characters or explore non-cisgender identities.
Lacks representation of visible or invisible disabilities within the central plot.

Official Synopsis

Amongst the mountains of Lesotho, an 80-year-old widow winds up her affairs and makes arrangements for her burial. But when her village is threatened with resettlement due to the construction of a reservoir, she finds a new will to live and ignites a spirit of resistance within her community.

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