You are here:

The Dying Swan

Name: The Dying Swan
Director: Yevgeni Bauer
Released: 1917
Duration: 49 min

Representation Score

5.1/10

Fair

1917

Director

Yevgeni Bauer

Runtime

49 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The Dying Swan is a period-specific melodrama that lacks modern diversity markers like racial or LGBTQ+ inclusion. It reflects the homogeneous social landscape of pre-revolutionary Russia. However, the film finds strength in its focus on women's ability to drive the story and the nuanced use of disability. The protagonist's muteness is treated as a source of depth rather than mockery, aligning her character with the film's psychological realism. Ultimately, the work succeeds by elevating the internal narrative of its female lead, even while remaining within the traditionalist constraints of its era.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Dying Swan have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film follows traditional heterosexual relationship structures common in early 20th-century melodramas. There are no non-binary or LGBTQ+ identities or narratives in the story.

How does The Dying Swan portray gender?

Good

The plot revolves around a female protagonist whose professional skills and emotional life drive the narrative. She is a figure of influence rather than a passive object, showcasing a significant role in driving the story through her ballet performance.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Dying Swan?

Minimal

The production reflects the homogeneous ethnic landscape of 1917 Imperial Russia. There is no evidence of intentional ethnic blending or race-bent casting in the narrative.

How does The Dying Swan represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film leans towards psychological realism and fatalism rather than purely religious storytelling. It focuses on a subjective, tragic romanticism rooted in the traditionalist aesthetics of the period.

Does The Dying Swan include disability representation?

Fair

The protagonist is a mute young woman, and her silence is a central part of her character depth. Her muteness provides a unique, internalized mode of expression through the silent medium.

Present on Screen

The narrative centers on a female protagonist with significant professional skills and emotional influence.
The protagonist's muteness is used as a meaningful narrative device for non-verbal expression.
The film prioritizes psychological realism and individual emotional truth over rigid social decorum.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks representation of non-binary or LGBTQ+ identities or narratives.
There is no evidence of racial or ethnic diversity within the casting or setting.
The story relies on traditional heterosexual romantic structures and clichés.

Official Synopsis

After being betrayed by her playboy lover, a heartbroken mute young woman joins a ballet company; during a performance of “The Dying Swan,” she enraptures a painter obsessed with portraying death genuinely.

How are these scores produced? →