The Pirates of Somalia (2017) | How Woke Is It?

Our VerdictMildly Woke

35%

The Pirates of Somalia2017

In a free society the right to critique art is essential and protected speech. These reviews reflect personal opinions and not statements of fact.

What We Think

"The Pirates of Somalia" mostly avoids the typical pitfalls of modern wokeness, focusing on storytelling and personal stakes rather than tokenism or heavy-handed ideology. It’s far from flawless, but certainly not a poster child for the woke brigade.

Score Breakdown

Compromised:Narrative Integrity

Mildly Woke

What is this?

The film sticks mostly to a fish-out-of-water journalist story with an emphasis on individual ambition. There’s some highlighting of Somali culture and personal backstories, but in our view, identity factors aren’t overly forced into the narrative, and main characters generally undergo realistic struggles and development.

Compromised:Cultural Foundations

Mildly Woke

What is this?

Traditional themes like family, ambition, and morality are present and generally treated with respect. There is curiosity about cross-cultural differences, but the film does not go out of its way to undermine religion, masculinity, or family values.

Compromised:Ideological Monoculture

Woke

What is this?

While Western media perspectives do dominate, the film attempts to portray Somali viewpoints with nuance. Alternative worldviews aren’t mocked, though the main character’s ideology tends to shape the narrative. It’s not a perfect balance, but not aggressively one-sided either.

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Disclaimer: In a free society the right to critique art is essential and protected as a form of free speech and freedom of expression. The reviews and commentary on this site represent personal opinions and interpretations. They are not statements of fact and should not be taken as factual claims about any individual, company, or creative work.