7.1
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Drama • 2017 • 117 min • Teen (13+)
American Wrestler: The Wizard (2017)
American Wrestler: The Wizard (2017)
Overview
American Wrestler: The Wizard is a 2017 drama about an Iranian immigrant navigating discrimination in 1980s America through high school wrestling. The public bias label 'Mixed' emerges from a tug-of-war between traditional themes of resilience and hard work and progressive emphasis on immigrant struggles and cultural identity. While the film champions self-reliance and family support, it also highlights prejudice and calls attention to systemic bias. These dual narratives give it a balanced cultural footprint.
Starring Cast
George Kosturos • William Fichtner • Ali Afshar
Where to watch
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Center
Political: Leans Right
Diversity: High
Family Values: Leans Traditional
Islam: Positive
Viewer Rating
7.1
Overview
American Wrestler: The Wizard is a 2017 drama about an Iranian immigrant navigating discrimination in 1980s America through high school wrestling. The public bias label 'Mixed' emerges from a tug-of-war between traditional themes of resilience and hard work and progressive emphasis on immigrant struggles and cultural identity. While the film champions self-reliance and family support, it also highlights prejudice and calls attention to systemic bias. These dual narratives give it a balanced cultural footprint.
Starring Cast
George Kosturos • William Fichtner • Ali Afshar
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Center
Primary
Political: Leans Right
Confidence: High
The film portrays an immigrant overcoming prejudice through individual hard work and resilience, championing traditional American values of self-reliance and meritocracy as the path to acceptance and success.
Diversity: High
Confidence: High
The movie centers on the experiences of an Iranian immigrant facing discrimination and bullying, with its narrative explicitly addressing themes of prejudice and cultural identity. This central focus provides a strong critique of societal attitudes, making diversity, equity, and inclusion themes central to the story.
Secondary
Family Values: Leans Traditional
Confidence: Medium
The film portrays a strong, supportive single mother who guides her son through challenges, emphasizing parental authority, resilience, and respect for cultural heritage within an immigrant family context.
Islam: Positive
Confidence: High
The film portrays its Iranian protagonist and his uncle, whose cultural background is predominantly Muslim, with sympathy and dignity. The narrative strongly condemns the prejudice and bigotry they face due to their heritage, positioning the audience to empathize with them.
LGBTQ: N/A
Confidence: High
The film 'American Wrestler: The Wizard' does not feature any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The narrative focuses on a young Iranian immigrant's journey to overcome prejudice and find belonging through high school wrestling in 1980s California, with no elements related to LGBTQ+ identities or experiences.
Trans: N/A
Confidence: High
The film 'American Wrestler: The Wizard' does not include any identifiable transgender characters or explore transgender themes. The story centers on a high school student navigating cultural differences and prejudice through the sport of wrestling, with no elements related to transgender identity present in its plot or character arcs.
Female Combat: N/R
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Gender Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film features original characters created for its narrative, even if inspired by real events. There are no instances of characters previously established as one gender in source material or history being portrayed as a different gender.
Race Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film is a biopic about Iranian-American wrestler Ali Afshar. The lead character, Ali Afshar, is portrayed by George Kosturos, who is of Greek descent. Both Iranian and Greek ethnicities are generally categorized as white, meaning the broader racial category of the character was not changed.
Hinduism: N/A
Confidence: High
Not depicted in the film.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
7.1
7.2
Critic Ratings
N/A
N/A
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