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Malevil

Name: Malevil
Director: Christian de Chalonge
Released: 1981
Duration: 120 min

Representation Score

4.9/10

Fair

1981

Not Rated

Director

Christian de Chalonge

Runtime

120 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Malevil is a postmodern look at societal breakdown rather than a character-focused story about diverse demographics. It emphasizes atmospheric tension and philosophical questions over typical hero stories, focusing on the fragility of human structures. While it doesn't make much progress in LGBTQ+, racial, or disability representation, it provides a sophisticated critique of Western institutions. The film highlights the collapse of organized religion and the state as an inevitable systemic change.

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Category Breakdown

Does Malevil have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include non-cisgender identities or stories that question the assumption that everyone is straight.

How does Malevil portray gender?

Fair

Men start off in leadership positions. Women switch between having ability to act and being caught up in conflicts driven by men's power.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Malevil?

Limited

The cast is mostly white and European, reflecting the film's 1981 French origin and rural setting.

How does Malevil represent religion and culture?

Good

The film effectively breaks down Western institutions like capitalism and organized religion, showing how these systems can collapse.

Does Malevil include disability representation?

Limited

The film looks at physical abilities in terms of survival, but does not show any specific examples of neurodivergence or chronic illnesses.

Present on Screen

Effectively breaks down traditional Western institutions like capitalism and organized religion.
Explores the collapse of state authority and social hierarchies thoughtfully.
Offers philosophical insights into the fragility of human structures and moral relativism.

Limited or Absent

Needs more diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds in the cast.
Includes minimal representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender narratives.
Lacks nuanced depictions of disability or neurodivergence.

Official Synopsis

In southern France, in a quiet little town, the mayor, who also owns a castle with some cattle, is in the wine cellar with some other people: the pharmacist, the veterinary, and some of his employees. As they are drinking wine, they hear a terrible noise and the heat's getting higher and higher. They don't realize what's happening: when they come out of the cellar, they realize that everything has burned, and all the buildings are destroyed...

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