You are here:

Twittering Birds Never Fly: The Clouds Gather

Name: Twittering Birds Never Fly: The Clouds Gather
Director: Kaori Makita
Released: 2020
Duration: 85 min

Representation Score

6.8/10

Good

2020

Director

Kaori Makita

Runtime

85 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

This film is a nuanced character study that uses a unique narrative approach to challenge established social hierarchies. By centering a same-sex relationship in a hyper-masculine yakuza setting, it effectively disrupts traditional power dynamics. The film excels in its portrayal of queer identity, providing depth and nuance to non-traditional desires. However, while it offers strong representation of gender and queer identities, it remains culturally uniform. The absence of diverse ethnicities limits its scope in terms of racial diversity, although it maintains cultural authenticity.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Twittering Birds Never Fly: The Clouds Gather have LGBTQ+ representation?

Excellent

The film focuses on a same-sex relationship and explores the emotional complexities of non-traditional identities within a strict criminal underworld.

How does Twittering Birds Never Fly: The Clouds Gather portray gender?

Excellent

The story challenges traditional masculinity by highlighting female empowerment and emotional intelligence. Female characters play a central role in driving the narrative.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Twittering Birds Never Fly: The Clouds Gather?

Good

Set in 1970s Japan, the cast is culturally uniform. Though it doesn't include diverse ethnicities, it offers a genuine and authentic depiction of Japanese culture.

How does Twittering Birds Never Fly: The Clouds Gather represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative criticizes strict social institutions by emphasizing personal freedom over traditional rules. Defiance of societal laws is portrayed as a means of survival.

Does Twittering Birds Never Fly: The Clouds Gather include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no significant portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities in this film.

Present on Screen

Sophisticated exploration of queer existence and same-sex relationships.
Effective subversion of traditional patriarchal and hyper-masculine structures.
Strong focus on female empowerment and emotional intelligence.

Limited or Absent

Lack of multi-ethnic or multi-layered racial representation.
Absence of visible representation for physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

In the hyper-masculine criminal underworld, a masochistic high-ranking yakuza and his newly-assigned bodyguard become increasingly drawn to each other.

How are these scores produced? →