You are here:
Creating Freedom: The Lottery of Birth

Creating Freedom: The Lottery of Birth

2013

Director

Joshua van Praag, Raoul Martinez

Runtime

77 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

THE LOTTERY OF BIRTH is the first in a three-part documentary series entitled 'Creating Freedom' exploring the relationship between freedom, power and control in Western democracies. The series draws together interviews with some of the world's leading intellectuals, journalists and activists to offer an alternative perspective on today's society and the future we're creating. We do not choose to exist, or the environment we grow up in. Our starting point in life is one of passive reliance on forces over which we have no control. THE LOTTERY OF BIRTH shows that from birth onwards our minds are a battleground of competing forces: familial, educational, cultural, and professional. The outcome of this battle not only determines who we become, but the society that we create.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.1/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film explores power and control within Western democracies, which often intersects with queer theory. However, there is no explicit evidence of non-cisnormative identities or specific LGBTQ+ characters.

Gender Representation

Fair

The documentary frames socialization as a product of external forces rather than biological destiny. This approach suggests a potential subversion of traditional gender hierarchies and power dynamics.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

By utilizing a global network of intellectuals and activists, the film avoids a purely Anglo-Saxon centric perspective. This methodology supports a plurality of voices and alternative viewpoints.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The narrative critiques Western institutions by framing familial and educational structures as sites of struggle. It prioritizes post-structuralist themes over traditional institutional stability.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no specific evidence regarding the portrayal of physical disabilities or neurodivergence in the available material.

Strengths

  • Utilizes a global framework of intellectuals and activists to provide diverse perspectives.
  • Challenges traditional meritocratic narratives through a systemic sociological lens.
  • Critiques established social structures rather than accepting them as neutral.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit evidence regarding the representation of LGBTQ+ identities.
  • Provides no specific information regarding disability or neurodivergent representation.
  • The focus on high-level intellectual discourse may limit direct character-driven diversity.

AI Analysis

The documentary functions as a sociological inquiry into the systemic forces that shape identity. It challenges the concept of meritocracy by highlighting how individuals are shaped by uncontrollable environments like family and education. The film's strength lies in its intellectual framework, which favors systemic analysis over individualist narratives. By treating social pillars as mechanisms of control, it offers a multi-vocal critique of the status quo. While the film aims for a global perspective, specific representation of certain identities remains unverified. The focus is primarily on the structural battlegrounds of Western democratic society.

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.