the film was definitely offensive in a lot of respects, but i wouldn't say it was racist, because the protagonist was in no way presented as the voice of reason. he's even committed at one point. in that respect it's like saying clockwork orange promotes gang rape.
i wasn't offended by the stereotypes as such, as i know many people who fit just about each and every one of them, but i think the error was made in that we see almost nothing but these stereotypes, and the impression was that the writer seemed to feel these were specifically black archetypes - whereas you can find someone from every ethnicity in britain who fits these crude templates.
flawed, but interesting, i felt it was more a story about how negativity between individuals in turn breeds negativity (karma, jamal, etc) which is pretty garden variety, non-controversial stuff. the protagonist suffered from a general misanthropy which, unfortunately, he had assigned a focal point to, as is the case with all racists - we are all the same animal, as humans, guilty of the same things.
i think it was peppered with things to offend people to generate controversy and therefore publicity. why else would you call your screenplay *beep* black people?". not exactly big & clever.
this film is flawed & questionable, but i think people denouncing it as racist propaganda (including the very articulate & interesting comment left by [email protected]), are overreacting slightly, and are probably intended to react this way by the show's producers, as another way of generating publicity.
if you feel i am deeply mistaken, keep your reply civil.
L
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jim_smithson
18 years ago
i saw it partly as a belated riposte to trevor phillips and his controversial statements regarding black boys classes and the failure that is multi-culturalism.
i agree that the protagonist had a general misanthropy that he aimed at the Black community, but i saw this as a plot device, not flaw.
racial equality (in this country for the sake of argument, but quite obviously globally) is a fascinating, contentious and absolutley critical issue; this film exposed me to more points of view on the issue, and i firmly believe that that is a good thing.
there is too much to talk about to really mention anything specific as being more or less important than anything else, but statistically black boys are 'struggling', why?
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an_borneo
18 years ago
I think it's deliberately misinterpreting for your own agenda if you think this play is racist in itself - and that includes people who want to use it as an excuse to express their own racism.
I think it was about one person's journey to make sense of what happened to him when he tried to do the right thing but it just made the situation worse. His paranoid psychosis was important because his views were abnormally skewed and distorted to a point that they probably won't be in his future. I think the ending was poignant because his final statement suggests that he stands by some of his observations, but that's his prerogative.
I thought the key social message was that if you want to support young marginalised people make something of themselves, you need to understand where they are coming from and try not to adopt a punitive paternalistic style with them, which damages their self esteem.
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andrew-jones5
18 years ago
The film was quite funny In parts, the acting was a little hammy at times but i imagine its supposed to be like that.
It mainly just showed quite negative sterotypes which could be seen as unfair. People have a pop at little britian for how it slags off the White working classes.
I suppose its were the gags are in negertive sterotypes.
'Work is the curse of the drinking classes' Oscar Wilde
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xrahspex
18 years ago
I watched "Shoot The Messenger", last night and had a lot of sympathy for the character Joe, played by David Oyelowo. I had to go through a similar problem with a young Asian boy who played the 'race' card. The programme covered a lot of truths about ethnic minorities and their pitfalls and let's face it, no culture, nationality, religion, race, gender or sexual orientation is perfect.
Ethnic and religious minorities and foreigners complain that there are no programmes about them or that they are shown too late. When a programme about them is shown at an appropriate viewing time, they bleat about anti-semitism, racism, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia or some other ism/phobia word. We make too many allowances for minority and oppressed groups in this country and yet do not receive any gratitude for it.
Another problem which the programme highlighted on is the youth of today. Wherever they are from, they need a bloomin' good hiding, national service and capital punishment to send shivers down their spine!
Never take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
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ppiatkowski1981
18 years ago
I hate that use of the word "Race Card" - It doesn't mean anything - it's a lazy cliched turn of phrase, that is sually used by Whites when confronted w/racism they cannot defend...
Ethnic and relgious minorities are right when they point out that when they are shown, it's usually in a racist manner -
I don't think mainstream society deserves any "gratitude" for the way it treats minorities because there's still racism ingrained in the way we run gov't, schools, politics and foreign policy
We have capital punishment in the US, and it does nothing -
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18 years ago
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18 years ago
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18 years ago
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Yukster_uk
17 years ago
Thought this film was well-made and inciteful drama about self-hatred in Afr-Caribbean community. Maybe there were stereotypes but showed many black characters in positive light. Plus it is written by, directed by and starring black people.
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Prismark10
11 years ago
It was a provocative piece, when you have a black person stating he dislikes other black people!
Its that man again!!
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