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Miracle: Letters to the President

Miracle: Letters to the President

Representation Score

5.9/10

Fair

2021

Director

Lee Jang-hoon

Runtime

117 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Miracle: Letters to the President is a historical drama that prioritizes political and social critique over modern identity markers. It effectively deconstructs power structures, portraying the struggle of citizens against an oppressive state apparatus. However, the film remains grounded in the social realities of 1987 South Korea, limiting its representation of LGBTQ+ identities and racial diversity. Gender roles in the film also emphasize traditional hierarchies, with male students driving the primary political narrative. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its cultural critique of authoritarianism, even as it lacks breadth in contemporary diversity categories.

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Category Breakdown

Does Miracle: Letters to the President have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or non-straight relationships. The romantic subplot centers around a typical crush between Joon-kyung and Ra-hee.

How does Miracle: Letters to the President portray gender?

Fair

Ra-hee plays a supportive role for the protagonist, but the political plot is largely driven by male students. The film reflects the male-dominated student activism of 1987 South Korea.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Miracle: Letters to the President?

Fair

The cast is primarily Korean, reflecting the historical context of the film. There is no ethnic diversity, which mirrors the specific localized context of the time.

How does Miracle: Letters to the President represent religion and culture?

Good

The story critiques authoritarianism by depicting the military dictatorship as an oppressive system. It highlights individual voices and the struggle for democratic reforms against systemic injustice.

Does Miracle: Letters to the President include disability representation?

Limited

There are no prominent depictions of visible or invisible disabilities. The narrative focuses on socioeconomic and political issues rather than disability-related plot points.

Present on Screen

  • Strong cultural critique of authoritarianism and systemic injustice.
  • Supportive roles for female characters like Ra-hee.
  • Authentic historical setting aligned with the biographical context.

Limited or Absent

  • Lack of LGBTQ+ representation or non-straight relationships.
  • Limited depiction of characters with visible or invisible disabilities.
  • Gender roles heavily favor male-dominated political activism.

Official Synopsis

Dreaming of making a way station for his sister and the villagers who have no choice but to commute along the dangerous train tracks every day, Joon-kyung sends many letters to the President, but with no reply. Ra-hee, who has a crush on Joon-kyung, does everything she can to help him meet the President.

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