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Baghdad Messi

Baghdad Messi

Representation Score

8.6/10

Excellent

2023

Director

Sahim Omar Kalifa

Runtime

88 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Baghdad Messi shifts the cinematic focus to a Middle Eastern perspective, using soccer to tell a story of resilience. By centering a local protagonist's journey through a global icon, the film avoids the usual Western-centric hero narratives. However, the film lacks specific information about LGBTQ+ representation and focuses mainly on the male protagonist's journey.

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Category Breakdown

Does Baghdad Messi have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film doesn't provide specific details about LGBTQ+ identities or romantic relationships involving queer characters.

How does Baghdad Messi portray gender?

Fair

The story emphasizes parents working together to ensure family safety, showing a cooperative approach that goes beyond strict patriarchal models.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Baghdad Messi?

Excellent

It centers a Middle Eastern narrative, breaking away from Western-centric hero stories. Characters of color play significant roles within their cultural setting.

How does Baghdad Messi represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The narrative delves into cultural complexities through systemic instability and trauma, prioritizing the protagonist's subjective experience over idealized institutional views.

Does Baghdad Messi include disability representation?

Good

The plot follows a protagonist recovering from serious physical and psychological injuries, offering a platform to explore identity through recovery.

Present on Screen

  • Centers a Middle Eastern narrative within a globalized context.
  • Breaks away from Western-centric hero clichés by highlighting a local journey.
  • Explores the nuances of physical and mental health recovery through the protagonist's actions.

Limited or Absent

  • Doesn't include explicit details about LGBTQ+ identities or romantic relationships.
  • Gender representation is limited, focusing primarily on the male protagonist.
  • The narrative's emphasis on survival might overshadow more diverse social or identity explorations.

Official Synopsis

The talented Hamoudi is an 11-year-old boy with a passion for soccer and an ultimate dream to one day reach the level of his idol Lionel Messi. The day Hamoudi is caught in a horrific suicide attempt, he wakes up severely injured in a hospital. As his parents struggle to keep the family safe, Hamoudi is determined to fight for his shattered dream.

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