New Showbiz

You are here:
Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle

Lots of Kids, a Monkey and a Castle

2017

Director

Gustavo Salmerón

Runtime

91 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Julita expressed her three greatest wishes shortly after getting married: lots of children, a monkey and a castle she can call her own. That all of these wishes have become a reality is probably down to the immense stubbornness of this charismatic and equally hilarious matriarch who has a weakness for collecting crazy objects. When financial circumstances force the family to sell their castle, her adult children are left sifting through a lifetime of peculiarities in search of a few lost bones… Spanish actor and neo director Gustavo Salmerón paints a deliciously absurd family portrait that just happens to reveal a lot about Spain, Catholicism and the economic crisis.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.8/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film lacks explicit details regarding LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. There is no visible evidence of non-heteronormative identities within the primary story arc.

Gender Representation

Good

The documentary centers on a charismatic matriarch who drives the family's destiny. This focus on her agency subverts traditional patriarchal hierarchies and decision-making roles.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The production focuses on a localized Spanish family unit. The narrative appears to prioritize class and regional identity over broad racial diversity.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The film examines the friction between Catholicism and modern socioeconomic realities. It uses the family's absurdity to critique traditional Western and institutional pillars.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no information available regarding the depiction of physical or neurodivergent disabilities in this work.

Strengths

  • Centers a female protagonist as the primary architect of her family's reality.
  • Provides a nuanced critique of the intersection between Catholicism and economic crisis.
  • Subverts traditional patriarchal hierarchies through the matriarch's agency.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks visible representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-heteronormative narratives.
  • Focuses on a localized ethnic identity with limited racial diversity.
  • Provides no information regarding the depiction of disabilities.

AI Analysis

Gustavo Salmerón’s documentary offers a stylized portrait of a Spanish family navigating economic instability. The film's primary strength is its subversion of gender roles, placing a powerful matriarch at the center of the narrative. While the film provides a sophisticated look at how religious tradition and capitalism intersect, it remains narrow in its demographic scope. It does not explicitly address LGBTQ+ identities or racial diversity beyond a localized Spanish context. Ultimately, the film functions as a study of individual agency against systemic decay, using a specific family's eccentricities to comment on broader societal shifts.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.