You are here:

The Mongrel

Name: The Mongrel
Director: Alessandro Gassmann
Released: 2013
Duration: 106 min

Representation Score

5.5/10

Fair

2013

Director

Alessandro Gassmann

Runtime

106 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The Mongrel shifts the cinematic focus to the underrepresented periphery of Rome by centering a Romanian immigrant. This provides a significant role in driving the story to an Eastern European character often sidelined in Mediterranean dramas. However, the film's emphasis is heavily on a patriarchal, male-led domestic hierarchy. This narrow focus limits the scope of gender and LGBTQ+ representation within the narrative. Overall, the film's strength lies in its exploration of ethnicity and class. It uses the immigrant experience to critique the systemic barriers present in modern European society.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Mongrel have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not include any explicit LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The story centers around a father and son relationship.

How does The Mongrel portray gender?

Fair

The story emphasizes a patriarchal structure focused on Roman and Nicu. The lack of a mother figure is a key plot point, but its purpose is unclear.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Mongrel?

Excellent

The film highlights a Romanian immigrant protagonist who plays a significant role in driving the story. This disrupts traditional Eurocentric Mediterranean cinema by centering an Eastern European perspective within an Italian setting.

How does The Mongrel represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative examines the criminal underworld as a survival mechanism against systemic social structures. It portrays the protagonist's lifestyle as a result of his socioeconomic environment.

Does The Mongrel include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no information available regarding characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Present on Screen

Focuses on a Romanian immigrant protagonist, providing high ability to act to an Eastern European character.
Provides a nuanced look at how socioeconomic environments shape criminal behavior.
Challenges traditional Eurocentric narratives by focusing on the Roman periphery.

Limited or Absent

Does not include any explicit LGBTQ+ representation or queer-coded subtext.
Emphasizes a patriarchal structure with a notable absence of female perspectives.
Provides no information regarding disability representation.

Official Synopsis

The story of a drug dealer from Romania and his son in Rome's suburbs.Roman is an immigrant from Romania arrived in Italy 30 years ago. He sells drugs and lives in criminal contexts. His dream is to see his child, Nicu, whom he raised without a mother, live a different and better life.

How are these scores produced? →