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The Shaman

Name: The Shaman
Director: Marco Kalantari
Released: 2015
Duration: 18 min

Representation Score

5.6/10

Fair

2015

Director

Marco Kalantari

Runtime

18 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The Shaman uses a speculative future to explore the tension between advanced technology and ancient spiritualism. By making Shamanism a weapon against intelligent machines, the film challenges the usual sci-fi cliché of technological dominance. The narrative structure provides a platform for exploring cultural leadership and the breakdown of traditional geopolitical institutions. It moves away from Anglo-centric progress by incorporating non-Western spiritual practices into a globalized warfare scenario. However, the film lacks specific details about individual character identities. Without clear evidence of LGBTQ+ representation or specific gendered dynamics, the diversity remains primarily thematic rather than character-focused.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Shaman have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not explicitly show non-straight or non-cisgender identities or specific romantic relationships. Although science fiction settings can disrupt assumptions about straight relationships, the movie does not identify any specific LGBTQ+ characters.

How does The Shaman portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on military roles such as Generals and spiritual warriors. While the cast includes female actors, there is no clear indication of women taking leading roles or challenging hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Shaman?

Good

The film breaks away from Western-centric sci-fi clichés by focusing on Shamanism. This practice, often associated with indigenous cultures, is used as a key tool against a technologically advanced force.

How does The Shaman represent religion and culture?

Good

The story critiques materialism by contrasting spiritual traditions with intelligent machines. This setup allows for a critique of the modern Western reliance on purely technological progress.

Does The Shaman include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no information available regarding the depiction of characters with physical or neurodivergent conditions in this work.

Present on Screen

Challenges technological dominance by highlighting indigenous-coded spiritual practices.
Disrupts Western-centric sci-fi clichés through the use of Shamanism.
Provides a thematic framework for exploring cultural leadership against industrial advancements.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit evidence of LGBTQ+ representation or non-straight identities.
Provides little insight into specific gendered leadership or the subversion of hierarchies.
Offers no information regarding the representation of characters with disabilities.

Official Synopsis

In the dark year 2204, the world has seen 73 years of continuous war. The face of conflict has changed. People kill people but they now rely on giant, intelligent battle machines to fight. Mankind has re-discovered Shamanism and the Generals on both sides use these well-trained spiritual warriors to face the threat of machines.

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