You are here:

The Overcoat

Name: The Overcoat
Director: Alberto Lattuada
Released: 1952
Duration: 103 min

Representation Score

3.7/10

Limited

1952

Approved

Director

Alberto Lattuada

Runtime

103 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Lattuada’s adaptation of Gogol’s tale is a sharp critique of institutional rigidity and social stratification. It prioritizes a study of systemic neglect over traditional triumphalist storytelling, focusing on the psychological erosion of a single individual within a bureaucratic machine. While the film lacks broad demographic representation, it excels in cultural commentary. By framing the protagonist's struggle against a cold, indifferent state, the film effectively challenges the dehumanizing nature of systemic authority. Ultimately, the work is a focused exploration of class and alienation. It trades diverse representation for a sophisticated deconstruction of how hierarchies oppress the individual.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Overcoat have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film adheres to a conventional framework regarding sexual orientation. There is no depiction of LGBTQ+ identities or queer undertones in the narrative.

How does The Overcoat portray gender?

Limited

The story centers on the male experience and professional isolation. It lacks strong female roles or challenges to traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Overcoat?

Limited

The film portrays a largely uniform society set in 1950s Italy. It highlights class differences without addressing racial or ethnic diversity.

How does The Overcoat represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The film excels in critiquing established power structures and state bureaucracy. It effectively dismantles the notion of institutional benevolence through social realism.

Does The Overcoat include disability representation?

Fair

The protagonist faces significant psychological isolation and social exclusion. This systemic exclusion functions as a form of social disability.

Present on Screen

Provides a sophisticated critique of institutional oppression and rigid state bureaucracies.
Successfully deconstructs traditional social hierarchies through a lens of social realism.
Offers a profound study of the psychological effects of systemic neglect and alienation.

Limited or Absent

Lacks strong female roles and fails to challenge traditional gender hierarchies.
Features a homogeneous social structure with minimal racial or ethnic diversity.
Provides no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or queer subtext.

Official Synopsis

Based on the Nikolai Gogol story but set in 1950s Italy, "The Overcoat" is the story of a poor city hall clerk whose only desire is to buy a new overcoat.

How are these scores produced? →