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The Clown

Name: The Clown
Director: Selton Mello
Released: 2011
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

5.7/10

Fair

2011

Director

Selton Mello

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Selton Mello presents a sophisticated character study that prioritizes psychological depth and surrealism over traditional formulas. The film excels in breaking down stereotypes and exploring the human condition through a poetic, non-linear approach. However, the work does not actively engage with identity politics or diverse casting. It operates mainly within a traditional framework regarding gender and orientation, focusing more on individual existentialism than on demographic representation. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its ability to challenge conventional narrative structures and offer a meaningful departure from Hollywood's homogeneous perspectives, even if it does not pursue a progressive social agenda.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Clown have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or narratives that question the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does The Clown portray gender?

Fair

The story revolves around the male protagonist's inner conflict and stagnation. A female character influences the plot, but the main focus remains on the male experience.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Clown?

Fair

Set in a Brazilian context, the film offers a perspective that reflects the local culture organically rather than trying to blend multiple aspects of identity.

How does The Clown represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story emphasizes subjective morality over strict doctrine. The depiction of the traveling circus highlights those living on the fringes of conventional society.

Does The Clown include disability representation?

Fair

The film examines mental health through existential sadness and professional burnout. It portrays the protagonist's emotional state as a nuanced human experience rather than a simple plot device.

Present on Screen

Presents a meaningful non-Anglo-Saxon perspective rooted in a localized Brazilian cultural landscape.
Avoids simplistic portrayals of psychological struggles by treating them as complex, nuanced aspects of the human experience.
Disrupts traditional cinematic structures through a sophisticated, surrealist approach to narrative.

Limited or Absent

Does not actively challenge traditional gender roles or empower female characters within the narrative.
Does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or narratives that question the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.
Concentrates narrative focus heavily within the male experience and psychological struggle.

Official Synopsis

The life of the owners of Circus Esperança, Puro Sangue e Pangaré, father and son, who plays two clowns. At a certain point, Pangaré starts showing tiredness and sadness for being an unhappy clown.

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