You are here:

Tora-san, the Good Samaritan

Name: Tora-san, the Good Samaritan
Director: Yoji Yamada
Released: 1971
Duration: 92 min

Representation Score

0.9/10

Minimal

1971

Director

Yoji Yamada

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Tora-san, the Good Samaritan, is a deeply localized study of working-class Japanese culture. It excels at portraying the nuances of domestic life and the warmth of traditional community bonds, offering an authentic look at a specific socioeconomic identity. However, the film operates within a very narrow social framework. It relies on traditional gender hierarchies and straight-centered structures, lacking the multi-layered complexity found in more progressive modern works. Ultimately, the film prioritizes cultural preservation over social deconstruction. It is a humanistic portrait of a homogeneous society rather than a diverse or subversive exploration of identity.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Tora-san, the Good Samaritan have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film centers on the protagonist's quest for a bride and does not include any queer subtext or non-cisgender identities within the character arcs.

How does Tora-san, the Good Samaritan portray gender?

Limited

Female characters provide emotional stability and domestic ability to act, but the film adheres to 1970s social hierarchies. The 'Madonna' cliché reinforces conventional romantic dynamics rather than challenging gendered power structures.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Tora-san, the Good Samaritan?

Minimal

The cast is homogeneous, focusing on a specific working-class Japanese experience. While authentic to its setting, the film lacks diverse racial perspectives or multi-layered breadth.

How does Tora-san, the Good Samaritan represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative celebrates community cohesion and traditional family values, emphasizing local neighborhood ties and cultural continuity over critiques of capitalism or Western institutions.

Does Tora-san, the Good Samaritan include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities that serve as central drivers for the characters or the plot.

Present on Screen

Provides a rich, authentic portrayal of traditional working-class Japanese culture.
Offers a nuanced depiction of community cohesion and local neighborhood ties.
Captures the humanistic details of domestic life and social continuity.

Limited or Absent

Lacks diverse racial or ethnic perspectives and multi-layered breadth.
Relies on conventional gender clichés and traditional social hierarchies.
Maintains a strictly straight-centered narrative structure without queer representation.

Official Synopsis

After a quarrel with his mother, Torajiro sets off to find a bride.

How are these scores produced? →