Where Are the Women? Love & Mercy

BASIC REPRESENTATION SCORE: -10

FEMALE AGENCY/POWER/AUTHORITY SCORE: 0

[no significant representation of women in authority]

THE MALE GAZE SCORE: 0

[no issues]

GENDER/SEXUALITY SCORE: -5

WILDCARD SCORE: 0

Is there anything either positive or negative in the film’s representation of women not already accounted for here? (points will vary)

No.

TOTAL SCORE: -15

IS THE FILM’S DIRECTOR FEMALE? No (does not impact scoring)

IS THE FILM’S SCREENWRITER FEMALE? No (does not impact scoring)

BOTTOM LINE: What few women appear here exist solely as supportive adjuncts to the male protagonist: a young wife (who is barely a character and speaks a scant few lines) early in his life and, later, a new girlfriend who is a more robust character in the sense that she actually impacts the story in a significant way… but still only in how she helps the male protagonist better his situation and return to mental health and creative spirit.