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Manifesto

Name: Manifesto
Director: Julian Rosefeldt
Released: 2017
Duration: 98 min

Representation Score

8.6/10

Excellent

2017

Not Rated

Director

Julian Rosefeldt

Runtime

98 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Julian Rosefeldt’s work is a sophisticated postmodern study that prioritizes ideological inquiry over traditional character-driven stories. It succeeds by dismantling Western institutional stability and framing identity as a result of governing ideologies. The film's strength lies in its ability to disrupt conventional hierarchies through performance. By using a single actor to play diverse roles, it challenges the idea of a singular subject and avoids typical gender clichés. However, the film's experimental nature limits its depth in specific areas of representation. While it offers a globalized perspective, it often uses identity and neurosis as aesthetic tools rather than exploring lived multi-layered or social realities.

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Category Breakdown

Does Manifesto have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on personal anxieties and ideological fixations rather than romantic relationships. It avoids typical heterosexual storylines but doesn't have prominent LGBTQ+ narratives or explore non-traditional gender identities.

How does Manifesto portray gender?

Good

Cate Blanchett portrays a wide range of identities, from corporate executives to underrepresented workers. This approach breaks down traditional gender hierarchies by showing gender as a performative act linked to obsession.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Manifesto?

Fair

The film features a diverse international cast, reflecting a global perspective. However, diversity is often tied to occupation or specific beliefs rather than exploring how different races intersect.

How does Manifesto represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film excels by questioning institutional structures and historical movements like Communism. It presents truth as a subjective, ritualistic experience, often criticizing modern existence through an anti-capitalist viewpoint.

Does Manifesto include disability representation?

Fair

The work explores neurodivergence and obsessive-compulsive behaviors as central themes. These portrayals often aestheticize neurosis for postmodern commentary rather than giving characters with lived disabilities a voice.

Present on Screen

Disrupts conventional gender hierarchies through performative identity.
Provides a profound critique of institutional and systemic structures.
Utilizes a diverse international cast to reflect a globalized perspective.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit, central LGBTQ+ narratives or identity explorations.
Tends to aestheticize neurosis rather than providing ability to act to disabled characters.
Racial diversity is tied to occupation rather than multi-layered dynamics.

Official Synopsis

An edited version of Rosefeldt's installation work of the same name, Manifesto is an outstanding tribute to various (art) manifestos of the nineteenth and twentieth century, ranging from Communism to Dogme, in connection with thirteen different characters, including a homeless man, a factory worker and a corporate CEO, who are all played by Cate Blanchett. A striking humorous audio-visual experience.

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