New Showbiz

You are here:
Words on Bathroom Walls

Words on Bathroom Walls

2020

PG-13

Director

Thor Freudenthal

Runtime

111 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Diagnosed with a mental illness halfway through his senior year of high school, a witty, introspective teen struggles to keep it a secret while falling in love with a brilliant classmate who inspires him to open his heart and not be defined by his condition.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.4/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The story centers on a heteronormative romance between Adam and Maya. It lacks prominent LGBTQ+ characters or narratives that challenge traditional heteronormative structures.

Gender Representation

Fair

Maya is portrayed as a brilliant, intellectually driving force rather than a passive love interest. This disrupts the 'damsel' trope by positioning her as an emotional peer.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The setting reflects a somewhat homogeneous suburban high school. The film lacks a multi-ethnic ensemble that would allow for a more complex, intersectional narrative.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The film explores the tension between individual autonomy and institutional authority. It focuses on navigating established healthcare systems and reconciling internal reality with societal expectations.

Disability Representation

Excellent

The narrative provides significant agency to a protagonist living with schizophrenia. It avoids 'inspiration porn' by focusing on the harrowing reality of hallucinations and mental healthcare.

Strengths

  • Provides significant agency to a neurodivergent protagonist.
  • Avoids 'inspiration porn' by depicting the harrowing realities of mental illness.
  • Features a female lead who acts as an intellectual and emotional peer.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks a diverse, multi-ethnic ensemble to drive intersectional storytelling.
  • Features a standard heteronormative romantic arc with little LGBTQ+ representation.
  • The setting feels somewhat homogeneous and lacks broader cultural variety.

AI Analysis

Words on Bathroom Walls succeeds as a character study by centering a neurodivergent perspective. The film avoids superficiality by making the protagonist's schizophrenia the lens through which the entire world is viewed, offering a nuanced look at perception and reality. However, the film's impact is limited by a lack of intersectional breadth. The social environment feels somewhat homogeneous, and the romantic arc follows a conventional, heteronormative path common in teen dramas. Ultimately, the film's sophisticated handling of mental health elevates it. While it misses opportunities for racial and LGBTQ+ diversity, its commitment to portraying the complexities of neurodivergent identity is its defining strength.

How are these scores produced? →

Featured in

  • Best Disability Representation in Film
  • Disability Representation in Drama

Similar Movies

Movie poster for Supernova

Supernova

2020

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 5.2 out of 10

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.