You are here:
Playing God

Playing God

2020

Director

Lars Kraume

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

The 78-year-old former architect Richard Gärtner (Matthias Habich) wants to put an end to his life. However, this should not be done abroad, but quite legally with the help of his family doctor. For Dr. Brandt (Anna Maria Mühe), out of personal conviction, it is out of the question to get her elderly but healthy patient a fatal preparation.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.0/10

Fair


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film lacks explicit LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. The story focuses on the ethical friction between a patient and a physician rather than non-cisnormative identities.

Gender Representation

Fair

Dr. Brandt serves as a central moral agent with significant professional authority. Her refusal to comply with a patient's request challenges traditional expectations of female submissiveness in clinical settings.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Limited

The narrative centers on a specific medical elite that appears largely homogeneous. It lacks evidence of multi-ethnic casting or intentional demographic blending within its professional environment.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The film critiques traditional religious frameworks by prioritizing human agency over theological mandates. It explores the tension between medical ethics and divine authority through a secularist lens.

Disability Representation

Fair

The story focuses on the biological reality of aging and mortality. Richard Gärtner is portrayed with agency, avoiding tropes of passive tragedy in his pursuit of autonomy.

Strengths

  • Subverts traditional gender hierarchies by positioning a female doctor as a central, authoritative moral agent.
  • Provides a nuanced exploration of aging and mortality through a lens of individual agency.
  • Challenges singular religious morality by framing medical ethics as a site of postmodern skepticism.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks significant representation of LGBTQ+ characters or non-cisnormative narratives.
  • The professional environment appears homogeneous, lacking racial and ethnic diversity.
  • The narrative focus remains narrow, centered on a specific Eurocentric socioeconomic class.

AI Analysis

Playing God is an intellectually driven bioethical inquiry that excels at deconstructing institutionalized morality. It provides a sophisticated look at the intersection of scientific progress and spiritual doctrine, particularly through the lens of individual autonomy. However, the film remains confined to a specific socioeconomic and Eurocentric milieu. While it offers depth in its thematic exploration of ethics and aging, it lacks breadth in its demographic representation. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its subversion of religious and gender hierarchies, even as it misses opportunities to include diverse racial and LGBTQ+ perspectives.

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.