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Manga

Name: Manga
Director: Pyotr Khazizov
Released: 2005
Duration: 70 min

Representation Score

3.9/10

Limited

2005

Director

Pyotr Khazizov

Runtime

70 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Манга is a fragmented, postmodern thriller that emphasizes the subversion of traditional moral frameworks over broad demographic representation. It challenges binary notions of heroism and victimhood through its chaotic, non-conforming characters. While the film explores non-traditional masculinity and complicates gender roles, it lacks significant racial or ethnic diversity. The narrative focuses more on situational ethics and urban instability than on diverse casting. Ultimately, the work functions as a character study of social disruption rather than a vehicle for systemic diversity, emphasizing moral ambiguity over inclusive demographic storytelling.

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Category Breakdown

Does Manga have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film includes Alik, a metrosexual writer who doesn't conform to typical masculine roles. However, the story does not explicitly confirm a queer identity or emphasize same-sex relationships.

How does Manga portray gender?

Fair

Alisa plays a key role, evolving from a public figure to someone dealing with trauma. The inclusion of a metrosexual male character adds complexity to traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Manga?

Limited

The cast and setting appear to reflect a homogeneous social environment. There is no evidence of intentional racial blending or diverse demographic representation within the production.

How does Manga represent religion and culture?

Good

The film questions traditional moral values and societal stability by presenting urban dysfunction and ambiguity as central themes.

Does Manga include disability representation?

Minimal

The story does not feature characters with visible or invisible disabilities that play significant roles.

Present on Screen

Subverts traditional heroic structures by focusing on disruptive, non-conforming youth.
Challenges binary 'good vs. evil' frameworks through moral ambiguity and situational ethics.
Complicates masculine archetypes through the inclusion of a metrosexual character.

Limited or Absent

Lacks intentional racial and ethnic diversity within the cast and setting.
Does not explicitly center queer-specific narratives or confirmed LGBTQ+ identities.
Provides no representation of characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Official Synopsis

This is a fractured tale of Kiwi (Iaroslav Zhalnin), a teen thief with a penchant for driving his motorcycle into traffic, playing video games and turning invisible; Alisa (Vasilisa Petina), a young model whose face is splashed all over city billboards and ads, with whom Kiwi grows fixated; and Alik (Khazizov), a metrosexual writer who roller-skates in his cavernous hard-wood-floored apartment and plucks a drunken Alisa after her fateful encounter with Kiwi. Alik, responding to Alisa’s pleas, eventually confronts the pestering Kiwi; a misunderstanding (did he rape her? did he not?) erupts into violence.

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