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The Quiet American

Name: The Quiet American
Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Released: 1958
Duration: 120 min

Representation Score

2.5/10

Limited

1958

Director

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Runtime

120 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film excels in its intellectual depth, particularly in its critique of Western hegemony and interventionism. However, it falls short in its representation of diversity, especially concerning whitewashing and the limited ability to act of female characters. These issues detract from the authenticity of the local Vietnamese experience.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Quiet American have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature any LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight relationships. The romantic subplot revolves around the heterosexual relationship between the main character and the female lead.

How does The Quiet American portray gender?

Fair

The story adheres to a conventional mid-century structure where the female lead is integral to the plot, yet her influence is often overshadowed by the male characters' viewpoints.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Quiet American?

Limited

Audrey Hepburn's casting as the Vietnamese lead role represents significant whitewashing. This choice emphasizes a Western aesthetic despite the film's Southeast Asian setting.

How does The Quiet American represent religion and culture?

Good

The film provides a sophisticated critique of Western dominance. It portrays American idealism as a destructive force, challenging the perceived moral superiority of interventionist institutions.

Does The Quiet American include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no significant depictions of physical or neurological disabilities in the film.

Present on Screen

Offers a sophisticated critique of Western hegemony and interventionism.
Challenges traditional moral hierarchies through nuanced political commentary.
Examines the destructive consequences of misguided idealism.

Limited or Absent

Includes whitewashing by casting a white actress in a Vietnamese role.
Limits the ability to act of the female lead, often framing her through male perspectives.
Does not include LGBTQ+ representation or characters with disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Cynical British journalist Fowler falls in love with a young Vietnamese woman but is dismayed when a naïve U.S. official also begins vying for her attention. In retaliation, Fowler informs the communists that the American is selling arms to their enemy.

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