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The Ashram

Name: The Ashram
Director: Ben Rekhi
Released: 2018
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

7.1/10

Good

2018

Not Rated

Director

Ben Rekhi

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film successfully disrupts Western cultural dominance by focusing on an Eastern spiritual landscape. It uses its setting to critique materialism and the stability of Western social structures through a post-colonial lens. However, the film's reliance on traditional thriller clichés limits its impact. The narrative centers around a Western protagonist, which hinders a full subversion of conventional storytelling patterns. Overall, while the film excels in creating a culturally diverse atmosphere, it falls short in providing meaningful representation for LGBTQ+ and disabled characters.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Ashram have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film focuses on a typical romantic storyline involving a missing girlfriend, without highlighting LGBTQ+ identities or non-binary gender roles.

How does The Ashram portray gender?

Fair

The story explores power dynamics within an ascetic community, challenging traditional gender roles. However, female characters often serve as catalysts for the male protagonist's journey rather than having independent ability to act.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Ashram?

Good

The film showcases a multicultural environment by featuring both Western and local Indian actors, avoiding a homogeneous Western perspective.

How does The Ashram represent religion and culture?

Good

The story criticizes Western materialism by showing characters who leave behind capitalist responsibilities for ascetic living. It portrays spirituality as fluid and potentially destabilizing, rather than adhering to strict religious doctrines.

Does The Ashram include disability representation?

Limited

There are no characters with visible or invisible disabilities in the film. The focus remains on the psychological and metaphysical aspects of the characters.

Present on Screen

Critiques Western materialism and capitalist social structures.
Features a blend of Western and local Indian actors for a multicultural environment.
Highlights non-Anglo-Saxon faces in roles of spiritual authority.

Limited or Absent

Needs better representation for LGBTQ+ identities and non-binary characters.
Female characters often act as catalysts rather than independent agents.
No characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Official Synopsis

After receiving a cryptic message, American skeptic Jamie travels to the Indian Himalayas to pick up on the trail of his disappeared girlfriend. There, he discovers a secretive community led by a guru with strange powers who may or may not be involved in her disappearance. As Jamie travels deeper down the rabbit hole, he quickly realizes he may have uncovered more than he bargained for, and that this mysterious mountain may contain the secrets of reincarnation - and a portal to another dimension.

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