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Bad Timing

Name: Bad Timing
Director: Nicolas Roeg
Released: 1980
Duration: 123 min

Representation Score

3.8/10

Limited

1980

Director

Nicolas Roeg

Runtime

123 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Nicolas Roeg’s film is a psychological exploration that emphasizes a fragmented narrative style over broad demographic representation. It successfully breaks down traditional romantic clichés and challenges conventional storytelling norms, offering a sophisticated view of subjective reality. However, the film falls short in representing diverse identities and experiences. The cast is predominantly made up of a specific social class of European professionals, and the narrative remains focused on this group. In essence, the film is distinguished by its intellectual complexity rather than its social inclusiveness. While it challenges genre conventions, it does not deeply explore a wide range of lived experiences.

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Category Breakdown

Does Bad Timing have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The movie centers around a heterosexual relationship and does not include any characters with non-binary gender identities or LGBTQ+ backgrounds.

How does Bad Timing portray gender?

Fair

Milena is shown as a strong, complex woman rather than a submissive figure. However, the story mainly revolves around the male protagonist's perspective.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Bad Timing?

Minimal

The film features a group of white urban professionals in Europe. There is no significant racial or ethnic diversity among the characters.

How does Bad Timing represent religion and culture?

Good

The film uses moral ambiguity to question absolute truths. It portrays traditional social norms as fragile and easily broken, critiquing Western societal structures.

Does Bad Timing include disability representation?

Minimal

Mental health issues play a key role in the thriller aspects of the film. However, it does not provide a detailed look at the lived experiences of those with mental health conditions.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional romantic clichés by showcasing destructive power dynamics.
Presents Milena as a psychologically complex character rather than a submissive figure.
Uses moral ambiguity to question absolute truths and traditional social norms.

Limited or Absent

Focuses on a homogeneous social class of European professionals, lacking racial and ethnic diversity.
Does not include any LGBTQ+ identities or queer-coded subtext.
Relies on mental instability as a plot device without providing a nuanced portrayal of mental health conditions.

Official Synopsis

Alex Linden is a psychiatrist living in Vienna who meets Milena Flaherty though a mutual friend. Though Alex is quite a bit older than Milena, he's attracted to her young, carefree spirit. Despite the fact that Milena is already married, their friendship quickly turns into a deeply passionate love affair that threatens to overtake them both. When Milena ends up in the hospital from an overdose, Alex is taken into custody by Inspector Netusil.

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