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Reigen

Name: Reigen
Director: Otto Schenk
Released: 1973
Duration: 122 min

Representation Score

2.9/10

Limited

1973

Director

Otto Schenk

Runtime

122 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Otto Schenk’s *Reigen* functions as a cyclical, episodic study of human desire in turn-of-the-century Vienna. The film uses an all-knowing interlocutor to guide viewers through a series of romantic and sexual encounters, emphasizing the repetitive nature of social and intimate exchanges. While the film avoids a singular moral judgment, it remains firmly rooted in the traditional aesthetic and social frameworks of its historical setting. The narrative prioritizes the observation of period-specific social mores over the disruption of systemic hierarchies. Ultimately, the film presents a conventional view of the era's demographic norms. It lacks intentional multi-layered representation or a critique of the rigid class structures present in 1900 Vienna.

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Category Breakdown

Does Reigen have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film touches on hedonistic social interactions but lacks clear representation of LGBTQ+ identities. It does not challenge the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Reigen portray gender?

Fair

Women play various roles, including servants and courtesans, navigating sexual economies. However, the narrative follows traditional period clichés of seduction rather than breaking down gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Reigen?

Minimal

Set in 1900 Vienna, the film reflects the homogeneous social landscape of the time. The cast lacks multi-ethnic or diverse representation.

How does Reigen represent religion and culture?

Fair

The story observes the social rituals and subjective morality of fin-de-siècle Vienna. It focuses on historical social roles rather than critiquing modern Western institutions.

Does Reigen include disability representation?

Minimal

The narrative contains no mention of characters with visible or invisible disabilities.

Present on Screen

The episodic structure offers an observational look at the fluidity of social interactions.
The film explores the roles of women navigating various sexual and social economies.
It provides a detailed look at the social rituals of fin-de-siècle Vienna.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks representation of queer identities or non-straight relationships.
The cast reflects a homogeneous demographic, lacking racial or ethnic diversity.
The narrative adheres to traditional period clichés rather than challenging social hierarchies.

Official Synopsis

An all-knowing interlocutor guides us through a series of affairs in Vienna, 1900. A soldier meets an eager young lady of the evening. Later he has an affair with a young lady, who becomes a maid and does similarly with the young man of the house. The young man seduces a married woman. On and on, spinning on the gay carousel of life.

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