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The Ground We Won

Name: The Ground We Won
Director: Christopher Pryor
Released: 2015
Duration: 91 min

Representation Score

0.6/10

Minimal

2015

Director

Christopher Pryor

Runtime

91 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Ground We Won serves as an observational study of a traditionalist social ecosystem. It prioritizes the preservation of specific cultural rituals and masculine archetypes over questioning these norms. The film documents existing social norms within a rural New Zealand rugby club. By focusing on the intersection of agricultural labor and paternal responsibilities, it reinforces conventional roles rather than challenging them. Overall, the work lacks complexity in reflecting multiple aspects of identity. It provides an authentic glimpse into the life of a specific demographic but offers little disruption to historical norms or identity-based power dynamics.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Ground We Won have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The documentary focuses on a traditional, rural environment where masculinity is emphasized. There is no depiction of non-traditional gender identities or narratives that question the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does The Ground We Won portray gender?

Limited

The story centers around male camaraderie and the traditions of manhood. It reinforces traditional hierarchies by highlighting a male-dominated sporting space.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Ground We Won?

Limited

The film documents a homogeneous social group within a rural New Zealand rugby club. There is no indication of a non-Anglo-Saxon majority or diverse casting.

How does The Ground We Won represent religion and culture?

Limited

The film celebrates traditional Western institutions, such as the nuclear family and local community structures. It emphasizes the effort needed to maintain these established social orders.

Does The Ground We Won include disability representation?

Minimal

While the film examines the physical demands of farming and rugby, there is no mention of neurodivergence or disability as a central theme.

Present on Screen

Provides a highly authentic, slice-of-life look at rural New Zealand life.
Explores the pressures of farming and fatherhood in a nuanced way.
Captures the strong communal bonds found in local sporting rituals.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of non-traditional gender identities or LGBTQ+ narratives.
Maintains a homogeneous demographic that lacks racial and ethnic diversity.
Reinforces traditional gender hierarchies without offering subversion or diverse perspectives.

Official Synopsis

With great bawdiness and backbone, a rugby team made up of farmers strive to redeem themselves from a long run of bitter losses. In the face of the hefty demands of farming and fatherhood, the Saturday game becomes the focus of the men’s passions and the ground on which their worth is proved. ‘The Ground We Won’ is a highly authentic, slice of life film about the challenges and joys of manhood, as seen through the rites and rituals of a rural New Zealand rugby club.

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