You are here:

Vegetarian

Name: Vegetarian
Director: Lim Woo-seong
Released: 2010
Duration: 100 min

Representation Score

8.5/10

Excellent

2010

Not Rated

Director

Lim Woo-seong

Runtime

100 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film effectively challenges traditional social hierarchies, especially those related to gender and cultural norms. By focusing on a woman's radical rejection of domestic norms, it provides a powerful critique of patriarchal control and Confucian family structures. However, the narrative remains culturally uniform and lacks explicit LGBTQ+ representation. While it disrupts straight-centered roles, it doesn't center on queer identities, limiting its scope in that area. Overall, the film is a profound exploration of individual ability to act against systemic oppression, offering a localized, non-Western perspective on the struggle for autonomy within a rigid society.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Vegetarian have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film doesn't explicitly show LGBTQ+ identities or romantic pairings. However, it explores how the protagonist rejects traditional marital roles, disrupting the idea of a typical heterosexual marriage.

How does Vegetarian portray gender?

Good

The story strongly criticizes patriarchal structures. Male characters are shown as agents of systemic violence, while females are portrayed with psychological autonomy.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Vegetarian?

Fair

As a South Korean production, the cast is culturally uniform. It highlights the tension between personal freedom and societal conformity, providing a non-Western perspective on individual ability to act.

How does Vegetarian represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film critically examines Confucian-rooted family structures and social conformity. It uses the protagonist's change in diet as a symbol for rejecting the violence inherent in modern social structures.

Does Vegetarian include disability representation?

Good

The film looks at mental health and neurodivergence through the protagonist's journey into a non-standard psychological state. It avoids 'inspiration porn' by focusing on her internal experiences.

Present on Screen

Strong critique of patriarchal structures and the subversion of traditional gender roles.
Critical look at traditional Confucian family dynamics and social conformity.
Avoids 'inspiration porn' when showing the protagonist's complex mental health and psychological state.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or queer romantic relationships.
Features a culturally homogeneous cast with limited ethnic diversity.

Official Synopsis

An ordinary housewife, Yeong-hye, who has nightmares every night, finally becomes a vegetarian, throwing away all the meats in her refrigerator. Her husband Kil-soo starts to complain about her actions. Her family also worries about her health. During a family lunch, Yeong-hye tries to kill herself due to her father's abrupt violence. Observing all the happenings, Yeong-hye's brother-in-law, Min-ho, a videoartist, hears from his wife that Yeong-hye has a Mongolian spot on her hips. Min-ho gets inspiration from this and starts to sketch.

How are these scores produced? →