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Elder

Name: Elder
Director: Genéa Gaudet
Released: 2015
Duration: 13 min

Representation Score

8.6/10

Excellent

2015

Director

Genéa Gaudet

Runtime

13 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Elder is a poignant documentary that uses archival 8mm footage to explore the tension between institutional faith and queer desire. By focusing on a romance between a Mormon missionary and an Italian Communist, the film effectively challenges rigid religious and political structures. The film’s strength lies in its layered approach, combining personal identity with historical socio-political contexts. It critiques how institutions attempt to regulate individual behavior and beliefs. However, the narrative primarily centers on male protagonists, and the exploration of disability and racial diversity serves more as a thematic backdrop rather than a primary driver of the plot.

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Category Breakdown

Does Elder have LGBTQ+ representation?

Excellent

The film focuses on a romantic relationship between a Mormon missionary and an Italian Communist, challenging the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender. This relationship transforms the narrative by disrupting traditional expectations.

How does Elder portray gender?

Good

The story challenges typical masculine stereotypes by highlighting vulnerability instead of stoicism. It presents a more fluid and emotionally complex version of masculinity.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Elder?

Fair

The narrative blends American religious identity with Italian culture, moving away from a purely Anglo-centric viewpoint. This transnational perspective enriches the storyline.

How does Elder represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film contrasts conservative Mormon beliefs with radical Italian Communism, critiquing how religious and political institutions handle non-conforming identities.

Does Elder include disability representation?

Fair

The mention of Thorazine highlights the theme of mental health and psychiatric treatment, indicating an interest in how institutions shape individual identity.

Present on Screen

Offers a nuanced view of queer identity within a highly restrictive religious environment.
Uses historical settings to critique institutional control over personal identity.
Challenges traditional masculine stereotypes through emotional vulnerability.

Limited or Absent

The narrative focus remains primarily on male characters, limiting broader gender diversity.
Disability representation is mostly thematic and lacks specific character involvement.
Racial diversity is secondary to the central religious and political conflict.

Official Synopsis

In 1974, a Mormon missionary finds his world turned upside down when he falls in love with a handsome Italian Communist. With original 8mm film and fierce storytelling, Tom Clark recounts a love story set against the backdrop of coastal Italy wrought with faith, identity, cigarettes, and Thorazine.

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