Cola Wars
2019
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Representation score: 1.1 out of 10
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The Automat
Representation Score
3.7/10
Limited
2021
TV-PGDirector
Lisa Hurwitz
Runtime
79 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetNew Showbiz Analysis
The Automat is a look back at the history of the Horn & Hardart restaurant chain. It focuses on how communal dining habits evolved and shifted towards modern fast food. The film's strength lies in its exploration of social changes and the evolving American landscape through a business perspective. It offers insights into the communal social fabric of the 20th century. However, the documentary doesn't explicitly challenge traditional hierarchies. It mainly serves as a nostalgic look at corporate history rather than a platform for contemporary identity issues.
Category Breakdown
Does The Automat have LGBTQ+ representation?
The film looks at the social impact of a public dining place but doesn't show specific LGBTQ+ stories or challenge the idea that everyone is straight.
How does The Automat portray gender?
It talks about the changing roles of women in public life over a century but doesn't clearly show how it challenges traditional gender roles.
How racially and ethnically diverse is The Automat?
The film explores how the demographics of America have changed over time through its focus on different generations of customers. It's not clear how much control characters of color have in the story.
How does The Automat represent religion and culture?
The documentary studies a Western institution that is fading away. It focuses more on changes in the institution than on criticizing Western cultural structures.
Does The Automat include disability representation?
The film does not specifically address the portrayal of people with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
Present on Screen
- Provides a window into the communal social fabric of 20th-century America.
- Explores the sociological evolution of public dining and social structures.
- Offers a historical perspective on the changing American landscape and demographics.
Limited or Absent
- Lacks specific LGBTQ+ stories or critiques of heteronormativity.
- Doesn't clearly show how it challenges traditional gender roles.
- Doesn't actively critique Western cultural structures.
Official Synopsis
The 100-year story of the iconic restaurant chain Horn & Hardart, the inspiration for Starbucks, where generations of Americans ate and drank coffee together at communal tables. From the perspective of former customers, we watch a business climb to its peak success and then grapple with fast food in a forever changed America.
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