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Savage State

Name: Savage State
Director: David Perrault
Released: 2020
Duration: 116 min

Representation Score

2.6/10

Limited

2020

Director

David Perrault

Runtime

116 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Savage State deconstructs the Western mythos, shifting from heroic individualism to the study of societal collapse. It emphasizes atmospheric tension and the erosion of domestic stability over explicit demographic representation. The film's progressive value lies in its skepticism toward the permanence of Western institutions. Instead of a civilizing mission, the narrative portrays a world where the state becomes a source of chaos rather than protection. While the film explores complex themes like the failure of the merchant class and lawlessness, it remains limited by a lack of actively leading characters from underrepresented backgrounds.

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Category Breakdown

Does Savage State have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any characters with LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender identities. The story centers on the survival of a traditional family unit.

How does Savage State portray gender?

Fair

Female characters face high-stress situations but their specific roles and influence remain unclear. Traditional gender roles are challenged by violence, but there is no clear subversion of these roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Savage State?

Limited

The cast is mostly white, fitting the 1863 Missouri setting. However, the inclusion of voodoo rituals hints at engagement with non-Western spiritual practices.

How does Savage State represent religion and culture?

Good

The film critiques the stability of Western institutions by showing the collapse of the state. It highlights the breakdown of social and political systems as a key theme.

Does Savage State include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no information about the portrayal of visible or invisible disabilities among the film's characters or plot.

Present on Screen

Offers a postmodern critique of the state and the fragility of social hierarchies.
Challenges traditional Western formulas by focusing on the breakdown of institutional authority.
Incorporates non-Western spiritual elements like voodoo rituals into the historical narrative.

Limited or Absent

Lacks visible LGBTQ+ representation or narratives that question the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.
Features a predominantly white cast with limited actively leading characters of diverse backgrounds.
Provides little insight into the ability to act or subversion of gender hierarchies.

Official Synopsis

Saint Charles County, Missouri, December 1863. Edmond, a prosperous French perfume merchant, decides to flee to a safer place when the storms of the American Civil War start knocking at his door, threatening the life and fortune of his family.

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