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Almost Christmas

Name: Almost Christmas
Director: David E. Talbert
Released: 2016
Duration: 111 min

Representation Score

6.6/10

Good

2016

PG-13

Director

David E. Talbert

Runtime

111 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Almost Christmas stands out as a strong example of racial centering in holiday cinema. By focusing on Black communal narratives and family dynamics, the film offers a rich, non-Anglo-centric perspective that avoids including someone from a minority group without giving them real depth. While the film excels in racial representation, it remains conservative in other areas. It adheres strictly to traditional religious and familial frameworks, offering limited subversion of established social hierarchies. Ultimately, the film balances meaningful racial inclusion with a traditional approach to cultural and gendered power dynamics, providing a robust platform for Black actors despite its conventional social structures.

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Category Breakdown

Does Almost Christmas have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film focuses on traditional romantic and familial structures without featuring significant LGBTQ+ characters or challenging assumptions about heterosexual relationships.

How does Almost Christmas portray gender?

Good

Cheryl serves as the main driver of professional and emotional stability. This positions the film as a counterpoint to male-dominated narratives, emphasizing female leadership and resilience.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Almost Christmas?

Excellent

The film excels by using an almost entirely Black primary cast. It highlights specific African American cultural and socioeconomic nuances without resorting to including someone from a minority group without giving them real depth.

How does Almost Christmas represent religion and culture?

Limited

Faith and the church are shown as essential sources of community. The narrative emphasizes traditional values of family stability and social cohesion.

Does Almost Christmas include disability representation?

Fair

The story explores emotional struggles related to grief and loss. However, there is no prominent focus on physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

Exceptional racial representation through an almost entirely Black primary cast.
Strong female leadership, positioning the protagonist as the family's emotional and professional anchor.
Authentic centering of African American cultural and socioeconomic nuances.

Limited or Absent

Lack of representation for LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight-centered characters.
Minimal focus on physical or neurodivergent disability representation.
Adherence to traditional religious and social frameworks limits cultural subversion.

Official Synopsis

A dysfunctional family gathers together for their first Christmas since the death of their matriarch.

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