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Smile

Name: Smile
Director: Michael Ritchie
Released: 1975
Duration: 113 min

Representation Score

5.6/10

Fair

1975

Director

Michael Ritchie

Runtime

113 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Smile serves as a biting social satire that dismantles the performative nature of high-society hierarchies. While the film's demographic makeup is traditional and lacks broad diversity, its narrative structure challenges class and gendered social roles. The film's lower scores in racial, LGBTQ+, and disability representation highlight its focus on a single, white socioeconomic class. However, it excels in its critical examination of capitalist institutions and established social structures. Ultimately, the film's value lies in its intellectual subversion of gendered hierarchies and its cynical dissection of elite institutions, despite its limited demographic scope.

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Category Breakdown

Does Smile have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not feature any prominent LGBTQ+ characters or stories. The social world revolves around traditional romantic and marital relationships among the upper class.

How does Smile portray gender?

Good

Women in the film are shown as intelligent and verbally skilled. They challenge traditional submissive roles by using sophisticated social tactics and verbal aggression.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Smile?

Limited

The cast is mostly made up of people from similar backgrounds, reflecting the specific demographic of the elite being criticized. This leads to a lack of diverse racial representation in the story.

How does Smile represent religion and culture?

Good

The film sharply criticizes Western institutions and the superficiality of the capitalist elite. It portrays social decorum as a shallow, performative act.

Does Smile include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no characters with visible or invisible disabilities in the film. The narrative focuses solely on the social dynamics of the able-bodied elite.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional gender roles by showing women as active, cynical, and intellectually sharp individuals.
Offers a sophisticated critique of capitalist institutions and the shallowness of social decorum.
Uses sharp satire to deconstruct the performative nature of elite social hierarchies.

Limited or Absent

Does not include diverse racial and ethnic representation, focusing almost exclusively on a white socioeconomic class.
Lacks representation for LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight narratives.
Does not include characters with visible or invisible disabilities in the narrative.

Official Synopsis

It's time again for California's "Young American Miss" beauty pageant, the biggest event of the year for Big Bob Freelander and Brenda DiCarlo, who give their all to put on a successful pageant. But Brenda is having marital difficulties and Bob's son is up to some mischief. Could this year's pageant be in jeopardy?

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