Bechdel Test Movie List

Since the robots virtually only communicate through body language and roboty noises, I think that should count as talking in this case. Eve gets examined by a diagnostic robot who earlier says "Clear!" in a female voice. I think this should count.

Just a side note: I think it's interesting, with this movie, to look at the ways in which we decide to assign gender at all.

It is interesting to note that the film does not pass the countertest, that there is never a discussion between two named men that is not about a woman.

This one is just all-around unique, because the focal point of the movie is the plant, and there's little dialog at all.

Countertest: yes, it does. The captain and Otto the autopilot talk about going back to Earth.

There are only three named humans in the entire movie, and the captain never even meets the other two. I think this should get a N/A

It definitely passes the reverse test--Wall-E and Mo tell each other their names.

The rating is correct but i don't think it's applicable in this contexte : you have a male and a female robot +- talking to each other. A capitain speaking to his piloting robot. And a couple, talking to each other.

There could have been a female capitain, but it wouldn't have mattered a thing !

I think the other communications need to be considered. The roach and Wall-E communicate plenty, just non-verbally.

I'm not sure the test can be applied here. Why is Eva Considered female? just because her name is an acronym that spells out a female name Eva therefore has feminie personality traits? Why is Wall-e a male?

In Wall-e do two named humans talk to each other about something other than a robot?

There are three named male characters (Mr. Forthright, Captain McCrea, John) and one named female character (Mary). The only dialogue between named gendered characters is between John and Mary.

This movie gets 0/3 on the female test and 1/3 on the male test.

As suggested above, it makes most sense to treat all of the robotic characters in this film as gender non-binary; they do not present as either male or female, and any gender-related assumptions made by us about them are on the basis of traits and voice actors rather than their own gender identity, or lack of.

If we agree on that, a big question is raised as to our interpretation of the test itself, and what it aims to measure: is it about the lack of representation specifically of female characters, or is it designed to highlight the comparative overrepresentation of men over women? (In other words, are we here to topple the patriarchy, or on a quest for greater female representation? Yes, I know it's both, but which is, in context, more important?)

The question is this: do we take the test to refer specifically to female characters, or to any non-male characters? Non-binary representation is sidelined even more than female representation, and, given that the test was originally conceived in slightly less enlightened times, it seems, to my mind, reasonable that we try to measure the level of representation of BOTH of these non-male groups, rather than just one. I recognise of course that this question is a big one that might require a larger conversation away from the specifics of Wall-E, though I still consider it a matter of interpretation of the test, rather than an issue with the test itself.

Either way, the 1/3 rating is flawed. If we treat the test as including non-binary characters, it would be a 3/3 rating; if, on the other hand, we treat the test as excluding non-binary characters and referring exclusively to male and female ones, then the film meets none of the criteria.