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Secret File

Name: Secret File
Director: Zheng Dasheng
Released: 2026

Representation Score

3.9/10

Limited

2026

Director

Zheng Dasheng

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Secret File centers an all-Asian cast in leading roles, giving characters of color full narrative authority as guardians of revolutionary archives. This strong racial representation anchors the film’s diversity profile. Women participate actively in protecting the documents, but the story prioritizes collective sacrifice over individual female leadership or gender dynamics. The absence of LGBTQ+ characters and disabled individuals leaves significant gaps in representation. The film’s cultural stance is clear: it celebrates Chinese Communist Party history without Western influence or critique. While politically focused, this singular perspective limits broader cultural inclusivity despite its strong ethnic casting.

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Category Breakdown

Does Secret File have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

No LGBTQ+ characters or same-sex relationships appear in the film. The story focuses entirely on revolutionary work and archival protection without exploring queer identities or relationships.

How does Secret File portray gender?

Fair

Women serve as guardians of the archives, including a character played by Yanxi Li. The narrative highlights collective sacrifice rather than individual female leadership or gender-specific struggles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Secret File?

Excellent

The cast is entirely Asian, portraying Chinese revolutionaries and allies. Characters of color hold central narrative power as the primary protagonists driving the historical mission.

How does Secret File represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The plot champions the Chinese Communist Party, framing its revolutionary history as heroic. Western institutions are absent, and the narrative supports a specific political ideology rooted in Chinese history.

Does Secret File include disability representation?

Minimal

No characters with physical or mental disabilities appear in the story. The film does not address disability representation within its historical narrative or character ensemble.

Present on Screen

Centers Asian actors in leading roles with high narrative importance.
Depicts women as active participants in a major historical mission.

Limited or Absent

Lacks any visible LGBTQ+ characters or relationships.
No representation of characters with disabilities.

Official Synopsis

A secret archive documenting the earliest revolutionary work of the Chinese Communist Party—the "Central Archives"—was successfully protected through the resilience and sacrifices of its guardians (both Party members and non-members) amid the turmoil and bloodshed from 1931 to 1949.

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