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Babyteeth

Babyteeth

2020

MA-17

Director

Shannon Murphy

Runtime

118 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

A terminally ill teen upsets her parents when she falls in love with a small-time drug dealer.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.6/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film explores non-traditional relationship dynamics that deviate from standard heteronormative arcs. While specific queer identities do not drive the plot, the narrative moves away from conventional social expectations regarding intimacy.

Gender Representation

Good

The female protagonist disrupts traditional hierarchies by maintaining high agency despite her terminal diagnosis. Her arc prioritizes personal autonomy over the stereotypical roles of a submissive daughter or a fragile patient.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The film focuses on a relatively homogeneous social setting. It avoids overt racial stereotypes but lacks the intersectional casting or diverse ensemble necessary for a higher score.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The story excels in critiquing Western institutions by framing the 'outlaw' figure with sympathetic complexity. It prioritizes individual truth and subjective experience over established social morality and traditional family structures.

Disability Representation

Good

The portrayal of terminal illness avoids 'inspiration porn' by treating the condition as a catalyst for radical life choices. The narrative focuses on the psychological autonomy of the individual facing mortality.

Strengths

  • Subverts gender stereotypes by granting the female protagonist significant narrative agency and autonomy.
  • Provides a nuanced, non-pitying portrayal of terminal illness that avoids common tropes.
  • Challenges traditional social morality by framing rebellion and unconventional relationships with complexity.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks intersectional casting and a diverse ensemble to improve racial and ethnic representation.
  • The focus on a homogeneous social setting limits the breadth of cultural perspectives shown.

AI Analysis

Babyteeth is a compelling subversion of the coming-of-age genre, using a terminal diagnosis to fuel character agency rather than pity. By centering a protagonist who rebels against social and familial expectations, the film successfully deconstructs traditional cinematic tropes regarding female fragility and morality. While the film excels in its nuanced handling of disability and gender autonomy, it remains limited by a homogeneous social environment. The lack of intersectional casting prevents a higher score in racial and ethnic diversity. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its moral relativism. It challenges the viewer to see the 'outlaw' and the 'patient' through a lens of complex, individual truth rather than societal norms.

How are these scores produced? →

Featured in

  • Best Disability Representation in Film
  • Disability Representation in Drama
  • Best Religious & Cultural Representation in Film
  • Religious & Cultural Representation in Drama

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