You are here:
Rewind & Play

Rewind & Play

2023

Director

Alain Gomis

Runtime

65 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

The lack of respect with which the Black musician Thelonious Monk was treated in Autumn, 1969. At the end of his European tour, legendary jazz musician Thelonious Monk appears on an interview show in Paris for French state television.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.8/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film centers on a heterosexual romantic partnership between Maya and her partner. While it lacks explicit queer characters, it explores fluid emotional intimacy that transcends rigid social scripts.

Gender Representation

Good

Maya, a professional dancer, provides a strong center for the film. The narrative grants her profound agency and focuses on her internal emotional landscape and physical autonomy.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Excellent

Gomis utilizes a predominantly Black cast to populate a contemporary Parisian setting. This approach treats Blackness as a normative reality rather than a peripheral element or a problem to be solved.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The film prioritizes individual sensory truth and the rhythm of urban life over religious dogma. It favors a secular, postmodern framework that values personal, lived experience over institutional narratives.

Disability Representation

Fair

The narrative focuses on the able-bodied experience of movement and intimacy through dance. There is no explicit depiction of visible or invisible disabilities or neurodivergent characters.

Strengths

  • The film effectively challenges European cinematic homogeneity by centering Black characters in professional and intimate roles.
  • Maya’s character provides a nuanced portrayal of female agency and emotional autonomy.
  • The narrative avoids traditional gender binaries, presenting a sophisticated and egalitarian view of relationships.

Areas for Improvement

  • The film lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ characters or non-heteronormative identities.
  • There is no visible or invisible depiction of disability or neurodivergent experiences.

AI Analysis

Rewind & Play succeeds as a powerful disruption of Eurocentric cinematic norms by centering the Black gaze. By populating a Parisian landscape with a predominantly Black cast in high-agency roles, the film moves beyond traditional racial tropes. The film also offers a sophisticated view of gender, avoiding binary stereotypes by focusing on the emotional complexity and autonomy of its female protagonist. This creates an egalitarian portrayal of interpersonal dynamics. However, the film remains limited in its representation of LGBTQ+ identities and disability. While it explores physical movement, it does not explicitly include queer characters or neurodivergent perspectives.

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.