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Waiting for Lightning

Name: Waiting for Lightning
Director: Jacob Rosenberg
Released: 2012
Duration: 96 min

Representation Score

6.2/10

Good

2012

PG-13

Director

Jacob Rosenberg

Runtime

96 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Waiting for Lightning is a focused biographical documentary centered on extreme athletic achievement. The film prioritizes individual pursuits and the transcendence of physical limits over broader social commentary. While the film does not promote restrictive hierarchies, it remains largely neutral. Its narrative structure revolves around the singular pursuit of greatness, resulting in limited representation of diverse identities.

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Category Breakdown

Does Waiting for Lightning have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not include explicit LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. It maintains a neutral stance, focusing on the journey of a professional athlete without addressing non-straight relationships.

How does Waiting for Lightning portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on Danny Way and the male-dominated skateboarding world. It reinforces traditional masculine roles of risk-taking without showing strong female influence or challenging gender norms.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Waiting for Lightning?

Fair

The film features the Great Wall of China, providing a diverse visual landscape. However, the main subjects align with the typical demographics of the professional skateboarding industry.

How does Waiting for Lightning represent religion and culture?

Fair

By focusing on an achievement in a non-Western setting, the film disrupts Western-centric narratives. It emphasizes individual success through personal effort rather than religious or institutional guidance.

Does Waiting for Lightning include disability representation?

Fair

The film examines the limits of human physical capability and the risks involved in extreme sports. It highlights athletic resilience and the fragility of the body without focusing on specific disabilities.

Present on Screen

The film sets its backdrop in China, offering a significant non-Western geographic and cultural perspective.
It delves into the limits of human physical capability and the resilience of the body.
The film centers on a subcultural identity that operates outside mainstream social structures.

Limited or Absent

The story lacks visible female influence or challenges to traditional gender roles.
There are no LGBTQ+ characters or narratives addressing diverse identities.
The main subjects align closely with the typical demographics of the professional skateboarding industry.

Official Synopsis

Documentary about the life of skateboarder Danny Way and his attempt at jumping over the Great Wall of China on a skateboard.

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