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The Patient

Name: The Patient
Director: Sérgio Rezende
Released: 2018
Duration: 100 min

Representation Score

4.5/10

Fair

2018

Director

Sérgio Rezende

Runtime

100 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film is a historical drama centered on the institutional transition of power in Brazil. It effectively deconstructs the mechanics of a military regime and the complexities of democratic shifts. However, the narrative remains anchored in the traditional social hierarchies of the 1980s. The focus on the political elite leads to a lack of diverse representation, especially concerning gender and LGBTQ+ identities. While the film offers a sophisticated look at state authority, it operates within a traditional framework where power is concentrated among a specific demographic of male political actors.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Patient have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film focuses on political maneuvering during Brazil's transition to civilian rule. There are no visible LGBTQ+ narratives or non-cisgender identities influencing the main storyline.

How does The Patient portray gender?

Fair

The power dynamics are heavily male-dominated, reflecting the political landscape of the 1980s. Women are shown in traditional supportive roles and do not hold significant political influence.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Patient?

Fair

The film depicts the demographic reality of the Brazilian political elite during this time. It serves as a historical reconstruction of a specific class rather than an exploration of diverse identities.

How does The Patient represent religion and culture?

Good

The film critiques authoritarian structures by examining the dismantling of a military dictatorship. It highlights the fragility and systemic instability of institutional power.

Does The Patient include disability representation?

Minimal

The film uses the protagonist's hospitalization as a plot device to create tension. The medical crisis serves as a catalyst for political change but does not explore the protagonist's disability in depth.

Present on Screen

Provides a sophisticated deconstruction of authoritarian structures and military rule.
Engages with complex themes of systemic instability and political morality.
Offers a nuanced historical reconstruction of a pivotal moment in Brazilian democracy.

Limited or Absent

Lacks visible ability to act for women, who remain in traditional supportive roles.
Provides no explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities within the political arc.
Uses medical crisis primarily as a plot device rather than exploring disability ability to act.

Official Synopsis

The true story of Tancredo Neves, the first civilian president of Brazil after a 20-year military dictatorship, and the infamous hospitalization which led to his death before he ever managed to take office.

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