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The Family

Name: The Family
Director: Gustavo Rondón Córdova
Released: 2017
Duration: 82 min

Representation Score

4.0/10

Fair

2017

TV-MA

Director

Gustavo Rondón Córdova

Runtime

82 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Family is a gritty social realist drama that excels in ethnic authenticity. By focusing on the lived experiences of the Global South, it avoids Western cinematic clichés and provides a vivid look at life in Caracas. However, the film is limited by its narrow focus on patriarchal structures. The narrative is heavily centered on masculine struggle, leaving little room for female or queer perspectives. Ultimately, while the film offers a powerful critique of systemic failure and institutional instability, its lack of engagement with LGBTQ+ and disability representation results in a moderate overall score.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Family have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film focuses on a hyper-masculine environment where survival depends on traditional strength. There are no representations of non-straight identities or same-sex relationships.

How does The Family portray gender?

Limited

The story emphasizes a masculine struggle for control within a violent landscape. Female characters have little influence over the plot, reinforcing a traditional male-centric social structure.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Family?

Excellent

The production achieves high marks for local authenticity by using a Venezuelan cast. This accurately reflects the specific ethnic and socioeconomic realities of Caracas.

How does The Family represent religion and culture?

Good

The film portrays the breakdown of family and state structures through a lens of grim realism. It prioritizes systemic struggles over religious or patriotic ideals.

Does The Family include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no prominent depiction of visible or invisible disabilities. The narrative does not use disability as a central theme or character arc.

Present on Screen

Authentic representation of the Venezuelan population.
Non-Western perspective that centers the realities of the Global South.
A compelling critique of the failure of state and institutional structures.

Limited or Absent

Lack of engagement with LGBTQ+ perspectives or non-straight identities.
Minimal representation of female influence within the main storyline.
Absence of characters or themes involving visible or invisible disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Andrés and his son Pedro live in a working district of Caracas and hardly ever see each other. While Andrés fills his time doing different jobs, Pedro wanders the streets playing with friends and learning from the violent atmosphere around him.

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