New Showbiz

You are here:
Barrage

Barrage

2017

Director

Laura Schroeder

Runtime

112 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

After ten years abroad, Catherine returns to Luxembourg, to catch up with her daughter Alba, brought up by Catherine’s mother Elisabeth. Alba is cold and distant with this stranger showing up unexpectedly in her life, so is Elisabeth, keen to keep her protégée to herself. One day, Catherine cannot take it anymore. She kidnaps Alba and takes her on a trip to a lake up North. Begins an unsettling journey into the puzzling world of motherly love, only to find out that sometimes the true opponent is yourself.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.3/10

Fair

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film focuses on maternal and intergenerational bonds rather than explicit non-cisnormative identities. While it lacks clear LGBTQ+ themes, the narrative explores the disruption of traditional family structures.

Gender Representation

Good

The story is driven entirely by female protagonists who hold emotional and physical agency. Women are the primary architects of the drama, moving beyond passive or domestic roles.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Minimal

There is no information available regarding the racial or ethnic composition of the cast. Consequently, the film's approach to racial agency cannot be assessed.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The narrative deconstructs the idealized nuclear family by framing motherhood through kidnapping and emotional distance. It prioritizes individual psychological truth over traditional social or religious morality.

Disability Representation

Minimal

The text provides no specific details regarding neurodivergence or physical disabilities. While the journey is described as unsettling, there is no evidence of intentional disability representation.

Strengths

  • Strong emphasis on female agency and psychological dominance.
  • Effective subversion of traditional, idealized maternal roles.
  • Focuses on complex, non-passive female character dynamics.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lack of explicit LGBTQ+ or non-cisnormative representation.
  • Absence of visible racial or ethnic diversity in the narrative.
  • No clear engagement with disability or neurodivergent themes.

AI Analysis

Barrage is a concentrated psychological study of female agency and interpersonal power. By centering the plot on the volatile actions of Catherine, Alba, and Elisabeth, the film subverts traditional gender roles and avoids domestic tropes. However, the film lacks intersectional depth. There is no evidence of racial diversity, LGBTQ+ themes, or disability representation, leaving the narrative's scope limited to a specific gendered lens. Ultimately, the film succeeds in deconstructing conventional familial hierarchies, offering a complex view of maternal authority that challenges standard social expectations.

How are these scores produced? →

Similar Movies

Movie poster for Sunday's Illness

Sunday's Illness

2018

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 6.0 out of 10

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.