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The Netherlands

Name: The Netherlands
Director: Bert Haanstra
Released: 1983
Duration: 15 min

Representation Score

1.2/10

Minimal

1983

Director

Bert Haanstra

Runtime

15 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Bert Haanstra’s documentary serves as a visual celebration of the Netherlands, highlighting its beauty and modernity. The film’s aerial perspective emphasizes landscapes and architecture over individual stories. As a result, the film prioritizes national aesthetics and social stability over diverse personal experiences. Consequently, it lacks meaningful representation of LGBTQ+ identities, disability, or racial diversity, focusing instead on the collective societal structure and historical customs.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Netherlands have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on showcasing the Dutch landscape and architecture, lacking detailed depictions of LGBTQ+ individuals and their relationships.

How does The Netherlands portray gender?

Limited

The representation of gender in the film is passive, emphasizing national identity over gendered power dynamics. There is no focus on characters who challenge traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Netherlands?

Limited

The film predominantly depicts a homogeneous Dutch population, with no apparent effort to blend or highlight racial diversity.

How does The Netherlands represent religion and culture?

Fair

The documentary celebrates the Dutch state and its customs, presenting a cohesive and positive image of national heritage and traditions.

Does The Netherlands include disability representation?

Minimal

Due to its focus on aerial views and landscapes, the film does not include narratives about individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities.

Present on Screen

Provides a rhythmic, observational look at the interplay between human activity and the natural Dutch landscape.
Offers a valuable historical mosaic of the country's geography and architecture from the early eighties.

Limited or Absent

Lacks character-driven storytelling, limiting the ability to represent diverse individual identities.
Focuses on traditionalist values and national heritage, resulting in a homogeneous depiction of society.
The aerial cinematography precludes the inclusion of specific narratives regarding disability or neurodivergence.

Official Synopsis

Bert Haanstra was commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make a short film about his own country. It had to be a piece of the work that mainly would be shown abroad, so that the rest of the world could make acquaintance with the beautiful countryside, with the modern side of the Dutch society and with historic building and old customs. After everything he had already made about these subjects, Haanstra was able to find a new angle, this time by observing the matter from the air. The result is a pretty mosaic of The Netherlands like it looked in the early eighties.

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