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Saudade

Name: Saudade
Director: Katsuya Tomita
Released: 2011
Duration: 167 min

Representation Score

4.0/10

Limited

2011

Director

Katsuya Tomita

Runtime

167 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Saudade provides a grounded look at working-class life and the social intersections of blue-collar labor. It successfully breaks the insularity of a purely domestic perspective by integrating international connections, particularly through the presence of Thai individuals in the protagonists' social circles. However, the film remains tied to traditional social structures. The narrative is heavily male-centric, focusing on male-dominated environments and social roles that lack deep representation of multiple aspects of identity. Ultimately, while the film avoids a strictly homogeneous perspective, it lacks the complex representation needed to move beyond a mid-range diversity score.

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Category Breakdown

Does Saudade have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film focuses on male friendships and interactions with women. There are no visible representations of non-straight or non-cisgender identities, nor any critiques of the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Saudade portray gender?

Fair

The story revolves around male-dominated work and social dynamics. Women appear in social settings but mainly in service or companion roles, rather than central ones.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Saudade?

Fair

The film includes international elements through connections to Thailand. This inclusion broadens the story beyond a purely homogeneous domestic perspective through cross-cultural interactions.

How does Saudade represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film explores secular, grounded realism centered on construction sites and bars. It lacks any specific critiques of Western institutions or religious frameworks.

Does Saudade include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no information available regarding the depiction of physical or neurodivergent disabilities within the character arcs.

Present on Screen

Integrates international elements through connections to Thailand.
Disrupts insular narratives via cross-cultural social intersections.
Provides a realistic look at working-class, blue-collar life.

Limited or Absent

Lacks visible representation of LGBTQ+ identities.
Features female characters primarily in service or social companion roles.
Focuses heavily on male-dominated labor and social environments.

Official Synopsis

Seiji works on construction sites. He sympathizes with Hosaka just back from Thailand. Together, they spend their evenings in bars with Thai girls. On a construction site, they meet Takeru, a member of the hip-hop collective of the city.

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