You are here:

Or (My Treasure)

Name: Or (My Treasure)
Director: Keren Yedaya
Released: 2004
Duration: 97 min

Representation Score

6.5/10

Good

2004

Unrated

Director

Keren Yedaya

Runtime

97 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Or (My Treasure) is a gritty, naturalistic portrayal of socioeconomic struggles in Tel Aviv. It dismantles traditional social hierarchies by focusing on the lives of the underprivileged and the breakdown of social safety nets. The film excels in presenting a realistic view of the conflicts between underrepresented communities and larger societal structures. It challenges conventional ideas of family and domestic life. However, it lacks LGBTQ+ representation and uses disability primarily as a plot device for tension. Its critique of capitalism remains centered on a specific, straight-centered context.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Or (My Treasure) have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature any prominent LGBTQ+ characters or stories. The romantic tension revolves around the protagonist's relationship with a young man, staying within heterosexual boundaries.

How does Or (My Treasure) portray gender?

Good

The story emphasizes the psychological burden of survival and the role of women in driving the narrative. It challenges the nurturing mother stereotype by showing the maternal bond as a source of stress.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Or (My Treasure)?

Fair

The film highlights the Israeli working class and those considered 'others' due to their socioeconomic status. It avoids depicting wealth, focusing instead on populations often overlooked by mainstream media.

How does Or (My Treasure) represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The story critiques capitalist systems and institutional failures. It portrays survival-based activities as necessary responses to environmental challenges rather than moral shortcomings.

Does Or (My Treasure) include disability representation?

Fair

Disability is represented through the physical frailty of the character Ruthie, but these elements primarily serve to highlight socioeconomic tensions rather than explore the individual's experiences with disability.

Present on Screen

Highlights the resilience and ability to act of women in a patriarchal society.
Challenges traditional stereotypes of mothers and domestic life.
Provides a deep critique of capitalist systems and institutional neglect.
Authentically depicts the lives of the working class and those underrepresented by socioeconomic status.

Limited or Absent

No LGBTQ+ characters or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth narratives are present.
Disability is used more as a plot device than to explore individual experiences.
Limited exploration of diverse ethnic or religious identities beyond socioeconomic context.

Official Synopsis

Or shoulders a lot: she's 17 or 18, a student, works evenings at a restaurant, recycles cans and bottles for cash, and tries to keep her mother Ruthie from returning to streetwalking in Tel Aviv. Ruthie calls Or "my treasure," but Ruthie is a burden. She's just out of hospital, weak, and Or has found her a job as a house cleaner. The call of the quick money on the street is tough for Ruthie to ignore. Or's emotions roil further when the mother of the youth she's in love with comes to the flat to warn her off. With love fading and Ruthie perhaps beyond help, Or's choices narrow.

How are these scores produced? →