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St. Helens

Name: St. Helens
Director: Ernest Pintoff
Released: 1982
Duration: 92 min

Representation Score

4.2/10

Fair

1982

Director

Ernest Pintoff

Runtime

92 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

St. Helens is a disaster-driven telefilm that prioritizes the tension of environmental catastrophe over social commentary. The narrative follows the chronological progression of the 1980 eruption, focusing on situational urgency and survival. Because it was produced in the early 1980s, it adheres to the traditional dramatic structures of its time, relying on conventional archetypes rather than stories that reflect multiple aspects of identity. Ultimately, the film serves as a historical reconstruction of a natural event, prioritizing environmental realism over disrupting social hierarchies or integrating diverse identities.

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Category Breakdown

Does St. Helens have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film centers on survival during a natural disaster, with no depiction of non-straight identities or critiques of the assumption that everyone is straight.

How does St. Helens portray gender?

Fair

Gender roles likely follow traditional 1980s hierarchies, with no indication of challenging gender norms or depicting masculinity in a non-traditional way.

How racially and ethnically diverse is St. Helens?

Limited

The cast likely mirrors the demographics typical of the Pacific Northwest in 1980, with no diverse ensemble driving the plot.

How does St. Helens represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story functions as a historical reconstruction of a geological event, lacking themes that challenge Western institutions or promote secularism.

Does St. Helens include disability representation?

Limited

There is no evidence that individuals with disabilities are given significant roles or that neurodivergent or physical disabilities are intentionally represented.

Present on Screen

Provides a focused historical reconstruction of the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption.
Utilizes a clear, chronological narrative structure centered on environmental tension.

Limited or Absent

Lacks intentional representation of diverse identities or non-straight narratives.
Relies on traditional gender and racial archetypes typical of early 1980s disaster cinema.
Does not provide significant roles or central character arcs for individuals with disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Centers on the events leading up to the cataclysmic 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington, with the story beginning on the day volcanic activity started on March 20, 1980, and ending on the day of the eruption, May 18, 1980.

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