You are here:
Shutter

Shutter

2012

Director

Joy Mathew

Runtime

134 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Rasheed (Lal) is a Malayali non-resident Indian working in the Gulf. He is on vacation in his hometown, Kozhikode in order to solemnise his daughter's engagement. Rasheed has invested in a commercial property next to his house which he has let out to store owners, except for one room. He hopes to use this room to start a business on his final return from the Gulf. During his holiday this room becomes a meeting place for Rasheed and his friends, where they bond over drinks every night. Manoharan (Sreenivasan) is a filmmaker wandering in the same city in search of a producer for his film.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.7/10

Fair


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film lacks explicit depictions of same-sex intimacy or non-cisnormative identities. However, the setting involving a sex worker suggests a departure from traditional domesticity, offering potential for exploring non-heteronormative social spaces.

Gender Representation

Fair

The plot disrupts conventional hierarchies by centering on Thankam, a woman operating in a marginalized professional sphere. While the male protagonist is the focus of confinement, her non-traditional role avoids submissive feminine tropes.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

Set in Kozhikode, the film utilizes regional identities like the 'Gulf returnee' trope. This grounds the story in a specific post-colonial and migratory context, providing localized depth.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The narrative prioritizes subjective morality by centering on a sex worker and migrant labor complexities. It appears to critique traditional social structures rather than adhering to singular religious or traditionalist ideals.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no evidence regarding the portrayal of physical or neurodivergent characters within the narrative.

Strengths

  • Avoids Western-centric homogeneity by utilizing specific regional identities and migratory contexts.
  • Disrupts conventional domestic hierarchies by featuring a female character in a non-traditional, high-stakes role.
  • Explores complex social dynamics through the lens of migrant labor and marginalized professional spheres.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit representation or character arcs for LGBTQ+ identities.
  • Provides no evidence of physical or neurodivergent character portrayal.
  • The agency of the female lead remains unconfirmed, potentially limiting gendered depth.

AI Analysis

Shutter moves away from idealized social structures by focusing on marginalized roles and the complexities of regional migration. The film avoids Western-centric homogeneity by grounding its thriller elements in the specific cultural context of Kerala. While the narrative explores non-traditional social dynamics, it lacks specific intersectional data. The focus on a commercial space and a sex worker suggests a move toward realistic human agency outside of conservative moral frameworks. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its departure from domestic tropes, though it remains limited in its explicit representation of diverse identities.

How are these scores produced? →

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.