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What the Day Owes the Night

Name: What the Day Owes the Night
Director: Alexandre Arcady
Released: 2012
Duration: 162 min

Representation Score

4.5/10

Fair

2012

Director

Alexandre Arcady

Runtime

162 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Alexandre Arcady’s drama creates a rich, multicultural environment by using the 1930s Algerian setting. The film steers clear of a singular Western viewpoint, emphasizing the intricate social layers and racial mixing typical of a colonial context. However, the storyline adheres to traditional romantic structures, focusing predominantly on the male protagonist’s journey and following conventional heterosexual patterns. Overall, the film excels in its sociopolitical complexity, offering a nuanced view of a specific historical period through the lens of personal desire and colonial conflict.

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Category Breakdown

Does What the Day Owes the Night have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on a central heterosexual relationship and does not include any non-straight or non-cisgender identities within the main character arcs.

How does What the Day Owes the Night portray gender?

Fair

Emilie serves as a key emotional figure, but the story mainly follows the male protagonist's growth. The gender roles reflect the societal norms of the 1930s.

How racially and ethnically diverse is What the Day Owes the Night?

Good

Set in colonial Algeria, the film highlights the tensions between French settlers and the local community. The Rio Salado youth group showcases diverse characters with varied backgrounds.

How does What the Day Owes the Night represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative delves into post-colonial themes and social hierarchies, showing how political conflicts and colonial power dynamics affect personal connections and ability to act.

Does What the Day Owes the Night include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no significant depictions of disabilities that play a central role in the story or influence the plot.

Present on Screen

The film provides a detailed exploration of post-colonial themes and social structures.
The multicultural setting gives significant roles to diverse characters.
It avoids a narrow Western perspective by highlighting the complexities of colonial Algeria.

Limited or Absent

The narrative follows traditional heterosexual romantic patterns.
The story centers around the male protagonist's journey more than the female lead's.
There is limited representation of LGBTQ+ identities and disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Algeria, the 1930s. Younes is nine years old when he is put in his uncle's care in Oran. Rebaptized Jonas, he grows up among the Rio Salado youths, with whom he becomes friends. Emilie is one of the gang; everyone is in love with her. A great love story develops between Jonas and Emilie, which is soon unsettled by the conflicts troubling the country.

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