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The Child

Name: The Child
Director: Benjamin Christensen
Released: 1940
Duration: 85 min

Representation Score

2.9/10

Limited

1940

Director

Benjamin Christensen

Runtime

85 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Child is a traditional period comedy that emphasizes established social hierarchies and conventional romantic paths. While it showcases women in professional roles, the narrative structure adheres to the gender dynamics of its time. The film lacks complexity in intersecting identities, focusing instead on class tensions and individual charm. The absence of diverse racial, ethnic, or LGBTQ+ representations suggests a story centered around a relatively homogeneous social group. Ultimately, the work upholds conventional social norms rather than providing a critical examination of the institutions or identities it portrays.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Child have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The story focuses on a developing romantic relationship between Pontus and Ilse. There is no indication of characters with non-binary gender identities or same-sex relationships.

How does The Child portray gender?

Fair

Female characters like Ruth and Ilse hold professional and academic positions. However, the storyline depends on traditional courtship scenarios where the male protagonist tries to win over the female lead.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Child?

Limited

The setting and character names imply a uniform European social group. There is no evidence of significant ethnic diversity or varied casting in the narrative.

How does The Child represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film examines class differences through Ilse's upper-class perspective. It seems to be a character-driven romantic comedy rather than a critical look at societal institutions.

Does The Child include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Present on Screen

Shows women in active social and professional roles, such as a law student and an office worker.
Highlights social class distinctions through the lens of upper-class attitudes and character interactions.

Limited or Absent

Depends on traditional courtship scenarios that reinforce existing gender hierarchies.
Lacks representation of diverse racial, ethnic, or LGBTQ+ identities.
Does not address disability or offer systemic critiques of social structures.

Official Synopsis

The action begins one early summer morning in a hostel, where we see, among others, two young girls, a law student, Ruth, and a small office lady, Ilse. From their conversation, we understand that Ilse has a very bourgeois outlook on life. By chance, these two girls come across one of Ruth's fellow students, Pontus Berthelsen, who is spending the summer holidays in a fisherman's cabin. Ilse, who has little world experience, quickly takes an interest in Pontus, who possesses a lot of innate charm. Pontus does his best to conquer Ilse, but her bourgeois attitude means - at first - that she does not fall for his rather deft approaches.

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