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The Borrowers

Name: The Borrowers
Director: Peter Hewitt
Released: 1997
Duration: 87 min

Representation Score

0.6/10

Minimal

1997

Director

Peter Hewitt

Runtime

87 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film functions as a conventional family fantasy that relies on established social hierarchies and Eurocentric clichés. It prioritizes traditional storytelling archetypes over diverse representation. Narrative structures reinforce standard domestic roles and homogeneous social units. The conflict centers on property and legal titles, adhering to standard Western frameworks without offering systemic critique. Ultimately, the production lacks representation across most underrepresented identities, focusing instead on a traditionalist approach to the fantasy genre.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Borrowers have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ narratives or non-straight identities. Family dynamics are strictly based on traditional heterosexual relationships.

How does The Borrowers portray gender?

Limited

Gender roles adhere to traditional domestic divisions. Pod serves as the external provider, while Homily is focused on the home and emotions.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Borrowers?

Minimal

The cast and setting are primarily white and Eurocentric. The film’s fantasy elements do not address racial or ethnic diversity.

How does The Borrowers represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story follows conventional Western values and legal frameworks. It uses typical coming-of-age clichés without challenging systemic issues.

Does The Borrowers include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of visible or invisible disabilities. The main characters and arcs do not include neurodivergent or chronic illness representation.

Present on Screen

Pete's coming-of-age journey provides a standard fantasy arc.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or queer narratives.
Gender roles reinforce traditional divisions of labor and domesticity.
The cast is predominantly white, lacking racial or ethnic diversity.
There is no representation of disability or neurodivergence within the characters.

Official Synopsis

The four-inch-tall Clock family secretly share a house with the normal-sized Lender family, "borrowing" such items as thread, safety pins, batteries and scraps of food. However, their peaceful co-existence is disturbed when evil lawyer Ocious P. Potter steals the will granting title to the house, which he plans to demolish in order to build apartments. The Lenders are forced to move, and the Clocks face the risk of being exposed to the normal-sized world.

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