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What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution?

Name: What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution?
Director: Sergio Corbucci
Released: 1972
Duration: 103 min

Representation Score

2.9/10

Limited

1972

Director

Sergio Corbucci

Runtime

103 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Corbucci’s work succeeds as a cultural deconstruction, using satire to challenge the perceived stability of religious and military institutions. By favoring a chaotic, relativist worldview, the film avoids the didacticism of traditional Westerns. However, the film remains limited by its narrow demographic focus. The heavy reliance on male-centric archetypes and the total absence of LGBTQ+ or significant female characters result in a low score for gender and queer representation. Ultimately, the film is a study in situational ethics. It excels at presenting a localized, chaotic reality through its diverse Mexican cast, even while failing to provide a balanced gender distribution.

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Category Breakdown

Does What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution? have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on male characters and does not include any non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth identities or same-sex intimacy. It adheres to traditional heterosexual norms.

How does What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution? portray gender?

Limited

Male characters dominate the narrative, using traditional comedic roles. Female characters have minimal presence and ability to act in the story.

How racially and ethnically diverse is What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution??

Good

The film features a predominantly Latino cast to reflect the Mexican Revolutionary context. It centers the conflict within the local population and Mexican landscape, avoiding whitewashing.

How does What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution? represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative uses satire to depict religious figures and military institutions, framing traditional authority as a source of absurdity rather than a moral anchor.

Does What Am I Doing in the Middle of the Revolution? include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent characters whose arcs are defined by visible or invisible disabilities. No instances of disability were identified as plot devices or subjects of mockery.

Present on Screen

Meaningful racial representation through a predominantly Latino cast reflecting the Mexican setting.
Effective use of satire to deconstruct traditional religious and military hierarchies.
Avoids 'civilizing mission' clichés by centering the narrative on local revolutionary chaos.

Limited or Absent

Significant lack of women's ability to drive the story and presence within the narrative.
Complete absence of LGBTQ+ representation or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth identities.
Heavy reliance on male-centric comedic archetypes.

Official Synopsis

In the beginning of the 20th. century Italian actor Guido Guidi, more enthusiastic than talented, and his ensemble tour Texas. The mysterious and obviously rich Peppino Garibaldi gives them an offer, they can’t deny: For a large amount of dough they should play “Richard III.” in the Mexican town Vera Cruz. But Peppino is not really interested in cultural affairs: He supports “La Revolución” and “General” Carasco, who utilizes the feastful premiere of “Richard III.” to raid Vera Cruz for Comandante Zapata. But shortly after the Mexican Army shows up with some canons in tow to sort things out. Guidi and Padre Albino, Italian like him, succeed to flee and save Carasco accidentially from the firing squad. Whereas the latter coninues his revolutionary fight, Guidi and Albino start an odyssey through the struggling Mexico, which lets them fall one time in the hands of Carasco the other time in those of Herrera or even in the clutches of “hand-taking” bandidos.

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