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A Thousand Days

Name: A Thousand Days
Director: Kimo Stamboel
Released: 2023
Duration: 121 min

Representation Score

7.7/10

Good

2023

Director

Kimo Stamboel

Runtime

121 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

A Thousand Days succeeds in offering a culturally specific horror experience that moves away from Western-centric supernatural clichés. By centering Indonesian folklore and traditional rituals, the film provides a distinct narrative framework that feels authentic to its Southeast Asian roots. However, the film's diversity is uneven. While it excels in cultural and ethnic representation, it lacks engagement with LGBTQ+ identities and relies on a character's physical vulnerability as a primary plot device. The narrative also centers on female labor without necessarily challenging broader gender hierarchies. Ultimately, the film is a significant contribution to non-Western genre storytelling, even if it adheres to certain traditional clichés regarding character roles and identity representation.

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Category Breakdown

Does A Thousand Days have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth identities. The story focuses solely on the protagonist's survival and the cultural context.

How does A Thousand Days portray gender?

Fair

The film highlights the central role of women as they navigate high-stakes professional responsibilities. Women manage the crisis of spiritual and physical survival.

How racially and ethnically diverse is A Thousand Days?

Good

The film breaks away from Western horror norms by focusing on Indonesian cultural specificity and local folklore. It emphasizes Southeast Asian spiritualism through its narrative.

How does A Thousand Days represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The story prioritizes local belief systems and traditional spiritual practices. It frames the cleansing ritual as a systemic practice rooted in ancestral traditions.

Does A Thousand Days include disability representation?

Fair

Dela Atmojo is shown as incapacitated due to a supernatural curse. She serves as the object of the ritual rather than an active participant.

Present on Screen

Strong centering of Indonesian cultural specificity and local folklore.
Effective disruption of Western-centric supernatural horror clichés.
Focus on female leadership through the protagonist's professional responsibilities.

Limited or Absent

Lack of representation for LGBTQ+ identities or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth characters.
Reliance on a character's physical incapacity as a central horror element.
Limited exploration of diverse gender hierarchies or neurodivergent perspectives.

Official Synopsis

Sri accepts a generous job offer and tasked to perform a cleansing ritual for Dela Atmojo, an unconscious girl who is suffering from the hex of 1000-days. The terror begins when her coworker neglects to finish the ritual. Failing to perform until the 1000th day will result in their demise.

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