Drama  •  2016  •  106 min

By the Time It Gets Dark (2016)

By the Time It Gets Dark poster

By the Time It Gets Dark (2016)


Rating & Dimensions

Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
Family Values: Mixed
Buddhism: Positive

Viewer Rating
7.3

Overview

By the Time It Gets Dark is a slow-burning Thai drama about a filmmaker documenting the 1976 Thammasat University massacre, with themes of historical trauma and memory. The film's focus on state violence and repressive politics, paired with its non-linear storytelling, underpins the Leans Progressive label. While it doesn't explicitly endorse modern activist frameworks, it probes authoritarian legacy and unresolved history, suggesting a clear critical stance rather than neutrality.


Starring Cast

Visra Vichit-Vadakan  •   Arak Amornsupasiri  •   Achtara Suwan


Where to watch

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Detailed Bias Analysis

Analyzing...
Leans Progressive

Primary

Political: Leans Left
Confidence: High

The film explores the lingering psychological and cultural impacts of the 1976 Thammasat University massacre in Thailand through a non-linear, meta-cinematic lens. Its focus on state violence, suppressed history, and the cyclical nature of political oppression aligns with critical examinations of authoritarianism.

Diversity: Moderate
Confidence: High

This Thai drama utilizes a localized cast appropriate to its setting and explores historical political violence without explicitly centering Western Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion framing or identity-based critiques.

Secondary

Family Values: Mixed
Confidence: High

Anocha Suwichakornpong's arthouse film focuses primarily on historical memory, political trauma, and the process of filmmaking rather than domestic life or traditional family structures. Due to the complete absence of meaningful family content or domestic relationship arcs, the film remains neutral regarding family values.

Buddhism: Positive
Confidence: High

The film incorporates Buddhist cultural elements, philosophy, and monastic settings naturally into the narrative fabric of contemporary Thai life, reflecting themes of impermanence and memory with cultural respect.

LGBTQ: N/A
Confidence: High

Anocha Suwichakornpong's 2016 drama explores the lingering trauma of the 1976 Thammasat University massacre in Thailand through a complex, metafictional narrative involving a film director, an aging activist, and various actors. The film focuses on political history, memory, and cinema itself, containing no identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes within its narrative scope.

Trans: N/A
Confidence: High

Anocha Suwichakornpong's drama examines memory, cinema, and political violence in Thailand through interlocking perspectives of filmmakers, actors, and historical figures. The narrative does not include any transgender characters, identity themes, or related storylines. Therefore, the portrayal is categorized as not applicable due to the complete absence of relevant representation.

Female Combat: N/R

The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.

Gender Swap: No
Confidence: High

By the Time It Gets Dark is an original arthouse drama film directed by Anocha Suwichakornpong, featuring fictional characters and narratives without any prior source material, historical adaptations, or legacy reboots that would involve altering an established character's gender.

Race Swap: No
Confidence: High

By the Time It Gets Dark is an original Thai drama film featuring fictional characters created specifically for the project, with no prior source material or historical figures subject to race-swapping.

Hinduism: N/A
Confidence: High

Not depicted in the film.


Viewer Rating Breakdown

7.3

Viewer Rating

Combines user and critic ratings from four sources

User Ratings

IMDB logo
6.4
The Movie Database logo
6.2

Critic Ratings

Rotten Tomatoes logo
9.1
Metacritic logo
7.3

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