You are here:

Glorious Days

Name: Glorious Days
Director: Riri Riza
Released: 2019
Duration: 119 min

2019

Director

Riri Riza

Runtime

119 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Because of an incident when they were in high school, members of the Bebas Gang were forced to separate. 23 years later, one of them is seriously ill and hopes to meet again one last time.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.9/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film maintains a neutral baseline regarding non-heteronormative identities. There is no specific evidence of LGBTQ+ characters or critiques of heteronormativity within the narrative.

Gender Representation

Fair

The story centers on a gang, a trope often tied to male-dominated social structures. It lacks clear details regarding female agency or the subversion of masculine hierarchies.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

As an Indonesian production, the film provides a vital departure from Hollywood-centric norms. It centers a Southeast Asian cast and explores regional social dynamics.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The narrative explores mortality and the complexities of human error. It suggests a focus on personal truth and situational ethics rather than rigid moral frameworks.

Disability Representation

Fair

A character's serious illness drives the central plot. This places a physical condition at the heart of the story, though its role as a catalyst remains to be seen.

Strengths

Provides a significant departure from Western-centric norms by centering Southeast Asian social dynamics.
Offers a nuanced, character-driven approach to storytelling through the lens of human connection.
Explores complex themes of mortality, aging, and the weight of past social structures.

Areas for Improvement

Relies on traditional gang tropes that may lean toward male-dominated social structures.
Lacks visible evidence of non-heteronormative identities or specific LGBTQ+ representation.
The central illness risks being used as a mere plot device rather than a tool for character growth.

AI Analysis

Glorious Days serves as a meaningful regional drama that disrupts Western-centric cinematic norms by centering Indonesian social experiences. It moves away from formulaic tropes to focus on character-driven storytelling and human connection. The film's strength lies in its ability to explore complex human agency through the lens of shared history. By focusing on the consequences of adolescent actions and the fragility of health, it offers a nuanced study of long-term social bonds. While the narrative follows traditional dramatic arcs regarding friendship and mortality, its placement within a non-Western framework provides essential diversification to the global cinematic landscape.

How are these scores produced? →