You are here:

The Honest Candidate

The Honest Candidate

Representation Score

4.8/10

Fair

2014

Director

Roberto Santucci

Runtime

110 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film excels at using satire to critique institutional corruption and the deceptive nature of modern political capitalism. By employing a supernatural element to enforce honesty, it disrupts traditional political clichés and offers a unique moral perspective on leadership. However, the film lacks depth in characters who reflect more than one aspect of diversity. The narrative is heavily centered on a single male protagonist, leaving little room for diverse identities to shape the story. There is also a notable absence of visible LGBTQ+ characters and significant women's ability to drive the story. While the Brazilian setting provides a baseline for cultural presence, the focus remains on the protagonist's personal struggle rather than a diverse, multi-ethnic cast.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Honest Candidate have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film focuses on a male politician's moral crisis and does not include any visible LGBTQ+ characters or identities that go beyond the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does The Honest Candidate portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on a male protagonist navigating political stakes. There are no female characters who play a significant role in driving the story.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Honest Candidate?

Fair

Set in Brazil, the film includes a multi-ethnic context. However, the plot focuses on individual morality rather than the way different parts of someone's identity overlap.

How does The Honest Candidate represent religion and culture?

Good

The film uses a supernatural curse to critique systemic corruption and democratic institutions. It challenges traditional political success by framing deception as a moral failure.

Does The Honest Candidate include disability representation?

Minimal

The film does not depict any physical, neurodivergent, or mental health conditions.

Present on Screen

  • Uses satire effectively to critique systemic political corruption.
  • Offers an innovative narrative structure that challenges traditional democratic leadership clichés.
  • Engages strongly with themes of moral relativism and institutional integrity.

Limited or Absent

  • Does not include visible LGBTQ+ representation within the character roster.
  • Limits the ability to act of female characters in a high-stakes political setting.
  • Focuses minimally on multi-layered racial or ethnic identities in character development.

Official Synopsis

João Ernesto Ribamar is a corrupt politician running for the presidency. He is in the runoff election, ahead on the polls, when he receives a "mandinga" (curse) from his grandmother, which makes him unable to lie. Now the problem begins: How to win an election by telling only the truth?

How are these scores produced? →

Where to Watch

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.