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Refuge

Name: Refuge
Director: Andrew Robertson
Released: 2013
Duration: 89 min

Representation Score

3.9/10

Limited

2013

Director

Andrew Robertson

Runtime

89 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Refuge functions as a typical survival thriller focusing on the basic struggle for survival in a lawless world. It does not intentionally challenge traditional hierarchies based on identity. The film effectively questions the permanence of Western institutions by showing the breakdown of American society. This results in a world where traditional ethical and legal frameworks are replaced by situational ethics. However, the film lacks clear markers of diversity. It prioritizes the mechanics of survival over addressing issues related to gender, race, or sexual orientation.

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Category Breakdown

Does Refuge have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film doesn't include any queer-coded characters or same-sex romantic relationships. It also doesn't challenge the idea that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Refuge portray gender?

Fair

The story revolves around a family trying to survive, which might reinforce traditional gender roles. While the main character seems to play a significant role, the film doesn't clearly challenge these roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Refuge?

Fair

The setting of a fallen America suggests a diverse population, but the cast list doesn't confirm a majority of non-white actors. The story focuses more on class struggles and resource scarcity.

How does Refuge represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film critiques the stability of Western institutions by showing the collapse of government and laws. It explores a world where traditional societal structures no longer apply.

Does Refuge include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no characters dealing with physical, sensory, or neurodivergent challenges. The survival narrative doesn't highlight disability as a central theme.

Present on Screen

Questions the permanence of Western institutions and societal stability.
Explores themes of systemic fragility through the collapse of civilization.
Provides a setting that necessitates subjective morality and situational ethics.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or queer-coded character development.
Does not provide clear evidence of subverting traditional gender hierarchies.
Fails to address disability or neurodivergent experiences within the survival narrative.

Official Synopsis

A post-apocalyptic thriller set in the ruins of a collapsed America, Refuge follows a family’s struggle to survive and rebuild a life in the absence of civilization. In the wake of a catastrophic plague, the family lives a lonely existence, struggling to maintain a sense of normalcy amidst a lawless world of roaming gangs and dwindling resources.

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