Is Ride or Die woke?
Movie · Released April 15, 2021 · Original title: Kanojo
Ride or Die has a wokeness score of 8/10, which we rate as Strongly Ideological. Woke messaging is very prominent and often feels forced or shoehorned in. Characters and plot are primarily shaped to serve the ideology. Many viewers feel the agenda overshadows the entertainment.
Key points
- Prominent lesbian romance and same-sex desire drive the central plot and character arcs.
- Critique of domestic abuse by male husband and patriarchal control as key narrative motivator.
- Positive queer female agency contrasted with traditional Japanese views on sexuality and relationships.
Wokeness analysis
Ride or Die centers its narrative on a lesbian protagonist Rei who abandons her life and commits murder to rescue her high school crush Nanae from domestic abuse by her husband. The film prominently features same-sex attraction, erotic scenes between women, and critiques of patriarchal control and traditional Japanese attitudes toward sexuality. Reviews highlight its departure from stereotypical LGBTQ portrayals in Japanese cinema by granting full agency to female characters in a road-trip romance thriller format inspired by Thelma & Louise. The queer relationship drives the plot, with flashbacks exploring unrequited lesbian obsession and the women's incompatible desires. Domestic violence against women and the protagonists' rejection of heteronormative lives serve as core themes. While entertaining as a psychological drama with strong performances, the messaging on female solidarity, queer love, and escape from male violence feels intentional and shapes character motivations more than pure escapism. This aligns with progressive emphasis on marginalized sexual identities and anti-abuse commentary, making the ideology prominent though not entirely preachy.
Plot
Rei, a successful lesbian plastic surgeon in a relationship, receives a call from her former classmate Nanae, who is suffering brutal domestic violence from her husband. Rei kills the abuser to prove her love, and the two women flee together on the run. Through nonlinear storytelling and flashbacks to their high school days, the film explores their complicated bond, incompatible emotions, past traumas, and shifting relationship dynamics amid the pursuit by authorities. Based on a yuri manga, it blends thriller elements with intimate character study.
Analyzed by AI on October 26, 2026