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The Machine That Kills Bad People

Name: The Machine That Kills Bad People
Director: Roberto Rossellini
Released: 1952
Duration: 85 min

Representation Score

3.0/10

Limited

1952

Director

Roberto Rossellini

Runtime

85 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Rossellini’s work serves as a cultural artifact reflective of its time rather than a tool for social disruption. The narrative structure emphasizes local myth and traditional storytelling over questioning social hierarchies or overlapping aspects of identity. The film is deeply rooted in its historical and cultural context. It mirrors the specific demographic and social realities of post-war Mediterranean life without attempting to challenge them. Ultimately, the film centers on the intersection of myth and local reality. It adheres to the traditional social frameworks prominent in 1950s Italian cinema.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Machine That Kills Bad People have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film adheres to the traditional social norms of 1952. There is no depiction of LGBTQ+ identities or narratives that question the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does The Machine That Kills Bad People portray gender?

Fair

The story focuses on the relationship between an elderly man and Celestino Esposito. It lacks character development that highlights women's ability to drive the story or challenges traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Machine That Kills Bad People?

Fair

Set in an Amalfi village, the film reflects the demographic makeup typical of its Mediterranean setting. It does not rely heavily on diverse ethnic blending as a key part of the plot.

How does The Machine That Kills Bad People represent religion and culture?

Limited

The premise draws on local folklore and superstitions. The narrative aligns with established community structures without challenging Western institutions or organized religion.

Does The Machine That Kills Bad People include disability representation?

Minimal

The synopsis does not mention characters dealing with physical, neurodivergent, or mental health conditions. No specific evidence of disability is present.

Present on Screen

The film offers an authentic portrayal of the Mediterranean demographic and cultural reality of its specific geographic and temporal context.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks representation of women's ability to drive the story and does not challenge traditional gender roles or domestic hierarchies.
There is no depiction of LGBTQ+ identities or narratives that question the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.
The story does not engage with the deconstruction of traditional institutions or the promotion of overlapping aspects of identity.

Official Synopsis

In Amalfi, a village on the Italian coast, an old man who seems to have strange powers gives Celestino Esposito, the local photographer, a dangerous ability.

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