
The American Friend
1977

Representation Score
Good
2007
Director
Roger Spottiswoode
Runtime
96 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetNew Showbiz Analysis
Ripley Under Ground is a sophisticated study of identity deconstruction. It excels in its nuanced exploration of queer identity and the subversion of conventional Western ethical structures. However, the film is limited by its historical setting, which results in a lack of racial and ethnic diversity. The narrative focus remains heavily centered on a singular, sociopathic perspective. Ultimately, the film prioritizes a deep, postmodern exploration of the self and the performance of identity over multi-layered diversity.
Category Breakdown
The film focuses on Tom Ripley's fluid sexuality and his attraction to men. It delves into the psychological tension between repressed desires and the social facades needed to navigate a rigid mid-century society.
Relationships with women are characterized by deception and power imbalances rather than domesticity. While the film avoids submissive femininity clichés, it lacks significant women's ability to drive the story due to its focus on the protagonist.
Set in the 1950s, the cast is predominantly white and European. There is a notable absence of minority characters driving the plot, reflecting a homogeneous expatriate social environment.
The narrative challenges traditional Western morality through a lens of moral relativism. It prioritizes situational ethics and the instability of truth over singular religious or patriotic ideals.
Mental health is explored through the protagonist's sociopathy and psychological instability. These traits primarily serve as character drivers for suspense rather than nuanced neurodivergent representation.
Present on Screen
Limited or Absent
Official Synopsis
Now living a quiet, luxurious life at his French estate—funded by past crimes and his marriage to an heiress—Tom Ripley finds that an art scam he supports—selling forged paintings by a supposedly living artist named Derwatt—beginning to collapse. An inquisitive American collector suspects his Derwatt painting is fake and demands answers. As the situation escalates, Ripley turns to murder and elaborate identity deception to protect his reputation.

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