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The Saint Bernard Syndicate

Name: The Saint Bernard Syndicate
Director: Mads Brügger
Released: 2018
Duration: 95 min

Representation Score

4.8/10

Fair

2018

Director

Mads Brügger

Runtime

95 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film effectively critiques global capitalism and Western hubris by presenting its protagonists as flawed, culturally illiterate agents of a predatory economic system. It avoids the 'white savior' cliché by positioning the Western characters as outsiders in a landscape they fail to understand. While the film excels in its cultural and racial analysis, it lacks representation for LGBTQ+ identities and disability. The core cast remains predominantly male-centric.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Saint Bernard Syndicate have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film focuses on the friendship between two men without exploring any queer romantic relationships or non-cisgender identities, maintaining a traditional perspective.

How does The Saint Bernard Syndicate portray gender?

Fair

The story revolves around two male characters who are portrayed as unsuccessful and desperate, challenging the typical depiction of strong male leadership.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Saint Bernard Syndicate?

Good

The film sets its story in Chongqing, China, avoiding the 'white savior' cliché by showing Danish characters as outsiders navigating a complex Chinese business environment.

How does The Saint Bernard Syndicate represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The narrative criticizes Western capitalist expansion and neoliberalism by highlighting Mr. Liu's unique worldview, which challenges Western rationalist norms and centers a non-Western cultural perspective.

Does The Saint Bernard Syndicate include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no mention of characters with visible or invisible disabilities in the film.

Present on Screen

Challenges the 'Western hero' cliché through flawed protagonists.
Provides a strong critique of neoliberalism and commodification.
Engages meaningfully with non-Western settings and cultural logic.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of visible or invisible disabilities.
Minimal women's ability to drive the story within the core plot.
No LGBTQ+ identities or queer romantic arcs.

Official Synopsis

The film is a comedy about Rasmus and Frederik, two Danish men in their 30s, who head out on a business venture. They know each other from a boarding school back in Denmark and none of them have really been successful in life so far. Now they meet, 15 years later, both keen to set up a dog breeding centre. The two partners have learned that so-called luxury dogs are extremely popular among the Chinese upper class and therefore expect this to be their way into fast and overwhelming wealth in China. A 200 plus lb St. Bernard dog by the name of Dollar travels with them to Chongqing. Here they meet up with the mysterious Mr. Liu who owns the largest bakery in Western China and who believes that dogs are as powerful as humans. Soon, the dog business evolves in unexpected ways, while the friendship between the two Danes grows stronger.

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