You are here:

The Stick

Name: The Stick
Director: Teppo Airaksinen
Released: 2020
Duration: 11 min

Representation Score

4.6/10

Fair

2020

Director

Teppo Airaksinen

Runtime

11 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The Stick is a character-driven drama that focuses on the instability of the nuclear family. By centering the plot on a child's desire for a dog amidst a crumbling marriage, the film deconstructs traditional domestic structures. While the film avoids celebratory family clichés, it lacks explicit markers of diversity. There is no visible representation of LGBTQ+ identities, racial diversity, or disability, which limits its progressive impact. Ultimately, the film's value lies in its realistic portrayal of emotional isolation and the breakdown of social institutions rather than in its demographic breadth.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Stick have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not include any explicit queer characters or non-straight relationships. The focus on a parental marriage suggests a traditional framework without visible queer involvement.

How does The Stick portray gender?

Fair

The narrative explores a fracturing marriage, which may challenge traditional domestic roles. This setup allows for a nuanced look at gendered expectations within a failing home.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Stick?

Limited

There is no information regarding the ethnic composition of the cast. The score reflects a potentially homogeneous domestic setting due to this lack of data.

How does The Stick represent religion and culture?

Good

The story disrupts idealized Western family clichés by centering on marital dissolution. It embraces a complex, cynical view of domestic stability rather than a positive family portrayal.

Does The Stick include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no evidence of characters with visible or invisible disabilities within the film's context.

Present on Screen

Challenges the sanctity of traditional family institutions through its portrayal of domestic instability.
Avoids unrealistic, positive family clichés in favor of a more complex, realistic narrative.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit markers of diversity such as LGBTQ+ involvement or racial diversity.
Provides no evidence of representation for characters with disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Aava has but one wish: to get a dog. Meanwhile, her parents' marriage is falling apart.

How are these scores produced? →