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Good-Bye

Name: Good-Bye
Director: Katsu Kanai
Released: 1971
Duration: 52 min

Representation Score

6.2/10

Good

1971

Director

Katsu Kanai

Runtime

52 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Good-Bye (1971) is a nuanced exploration of identity centered around non-Western heritage. By focusing on a South Korean protagonist navigating aphasia, the film moves beyond typical dramatic clichés to offer a complex, identity-driven journey. The film successfully engages with ethnic and historical ability to act. The reclamation of Koguryo heritage provides a profound look at lineage that avoids the monolithic historical perspectives common in global cinema of that era. While the film lacks LGBTQ+ representation, it provides meaningful roles to both its female and neurodivergent characters. The narrative structure favors a deep, personal connection to cultural roots over standard Western storytelling patterns.

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Category Breakdown

Does Good-Bye have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any characters with non-straight sexual orientations or non-cisgender identities. There are no stories that question the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Good-Bye portray gender?

Fair

A female character, known as the 'Koguryo Beauty,' plays a crucial role in driving the story forward. She has significant influence as a source of knowledge and heritage.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Good-Bye?

Good

The story focuses on a South Korean protagonist and delves into Koguryo heritage. This emphasis challenges Western-centric views by highlighting non-Anglo-Saxon identity and historical ability to act.

How does Good-Bye represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative emphasizes localized history and regional identity over Western frameworks. It values subjective cultural truths through the lens of specific ancestral roots.

Does Good-Bye include disability representation?

Good

The protagonist's aphasia is a central element of his interactions with the world. His condition is portrayed as a unique way of experiencing life rather than a mere tragedy.

Present on Screen

Strong emphasis on South Korean identity and the reclamation of Koguryo heritage.
Provides a protagonist with ability to act despite his neurological condition of aphasia.
Features a female character who plays a significant role in driving the story.

Limited or Absent

Lacks any explicit representation or narrative focus regarding LGBTQ+ identities.
Does not provide specific details regarding the subversion of gender hierarchies.

Official Synopsis

An aphasic young boy living in South Korea meets, on one of his regular paths, a “Koguryo Beauty” who shows him how to trace his heritage.

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