MovieChat Forums > The Sapphires (2012) Discussion > Movie Badly Misrepresented on DVD Art

Movie Badly Misrepresented on DVD Art


The Sapphires is a wonderful movie about a group of female, black Australian singers who happen to have a male, white Irish manager. It isn't about a male, white singer who has female black back-up singers.

I object so strongly to the DVD art that I won't buy it until it's rereleased with accurate cover art.

There's a great discussion on this ("dick-washing & white-washing") over at Flick Filosopher.

http://www.flickfilosopher.com/2013/08/why-has-anchor-bay-dick-washed- and-whitewashed-the-sapphires.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_mediu m=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+flickfilosonigel+%28Flick+full%29


Laurie Mann
http://www.dpsinfo.com

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I'm sure it's as simple as O'Dowd being a more recognizable and thus bankable name.

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I'd almost agree with this...almost, except that the photo of him on the US DVD is so oddly shot that it doesn't look much like Chris O'Dowd.

Laurie Mann
http://www.dpsinfo.com

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But his name is the only one listed above the title -- in fact, it's the only name on the cover lest there be any doubt who the man is -- so obviously he's the selling point.

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[deleted]

Yeah, the American marketing of the film is totally whitewashed and sexist. Sign the petition to change the DVD cover here!

http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/anchor-bay-change-the-sapphires-dvd-cover-2

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[deleted]

The true story of black women who succeed in spite of White Racism- so they get honored by being put in in a faded background picture on own movie cover and upstaged by a made up white character? Sounds about right. It's in bad taste if not done (probably) on purpose.

You sound like an idiot. I bet you're the type that is a stickler for accuracy until, well...
"Make your own"? That definitely sounds like a person with the privilege of walking into any store and finding lots of things made and catered specifically for them on their behalf (and doesn't even realize it).

Funny thing is when black people do make their own things you people "whinge" insistently ("reverse racism", "not fair", "you're dividing the country", "why do you need to do your own, I don't see color", and what not). Sheesh there's no winning when you're black I suppose.

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Actually, IMO you're the person "sounding" like an uneducated "idiot" here. Who is saying racism is/was a good thing? You're the only one "whinging" about colors. Anyway, it's just a movie for gods sake!! If you don't like how it's being advertised, don't watch it. EZPZ. Move along and save your "poor me" speech for some other forum.

Typical. As if dark skinned people were the only ones in the entire existence of the human race to ever experience racism. Further more, the majority of racism towards blacks throughout history was in fact perpetrated by blacks. White slavery is something all to easily forgotten as well. Hell, every race has had their bout with racism - many far worse/longer than what blacks have endured. None of it was "right" and it isn't a damn competition... but clearly you're wrong for feeding the separation of ethnicity and the continuous hate in society. You need a serious history lesson.

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Oh please. It's just a movie of course. Why move along, do you own this forum? lol.

Right, I'm feeding the separation in society. Pointing out an injustice (however minor). Did I not forecast this in my previous message

"you're dividing the country"

'nuff said. This is reply usually pops up in someway or the other.

Further more, the majority of racism towards blacks throughout history was in fact perpetrated by blacks.


Bahahahaha. So what you're saying is you're an enlightened non-black person trying to "explain" to me how actually I rather suffer from other black people but I'm apparently too dense realize it? LMAO white paternalism.

I'm not even going to go how you're wrong about how what racism truly is. And I'm not going to play "oppression Olympics" with you. smh.


*pointing out racism, is worse than racism* ¬_¬

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@BlobbyLight

Nobody said that only dark-skinned people have been the only ones to experience racism, but let's be real----we damn sure have had the worst of it perpetuated against us legally,physically and psychologically for the last damn 500 years--especially in the Western Hemisphere.

Typical. As if dark skinned people were the only ones in the entire existence of the human race to ever experience racism. Further more, the majority of racism towards blacks throughout history was in fact perpetrated by blacks.





Typical ignorant BS self-sbsorbed statement by a clueless white person----trust me, if your ancestors had been enslaved because of their skin color, you wouldn't be talking none of this bull****. Saying "everybody experienced racism" does NOT excuse the slavery that happened here in the U.S.--in fact, it makes light of it, as if it wasn't any big damn deal---easy to say, since it's not YOUR history. It's mine,though, and blowing it off because you can't relate to it just shows how full of arrogance and white privilege you are. And where the hell is the proof of what you said in that last sentence? Don't come on here talking BS if you can't back it the hell up with any real facts.

And hell,yeah, that cover is some bull**** because it makes it seem like the white guy is the star, when the movie isn't even ABOUT him to begin with. Why the hell are the REAL stars of the film in the damn backgrouns? What kind of stupid bull**** is that? You would NEVER see that s*** done with some white stars--that's why people are calling bull**** on the damn cover, because it looks ridiculous.

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@ both of you dingdongs: Funny how you both automatically assume I'm white! Hmm... Racism and slavery in the US huh? The ongoing extermination, enslavement and discrimination of American indians? European forced indentured servitude? Kingdom/Church/Govt. sponsored orphaned and kidnapped child slavery for hundreds of years up to as recent as the 1970's? Chinese slave labor? Japanese "camps"? Hmm... Just for a second take a look at the history of the "African" part of African American. For thousands of years to this very day it continues on.. and it sure as hell wasn't and still aint whitey runnin the show. Hmm...

Nothing more than your typical dumbed down ignorant poor me (and only me) African American racist propaganda. America might be the melting pot of cultures, but it will always be divided from within, due to brainwashed hateful people like yourselves. Wake the fvck up and educate yourself before standing on that soap box why don't ya. If you truly wish for change (and I don't mean the money kind) perhaps try doing something positive in the world. Hmm...

Peace brothers and sisters

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@BlobbyLight


Whatever or whoever the *beep* you are, you need to shut the hell up and go re-educate YOURSELF. As an African-American who knows her own history and the history of other folks of color around the world, I don't need you to tell me ONE damn thing about it.

Nothing more than your typical dumbed down ignorant poor me (and only me) African American racist propaganda


Are you *beep* serious? As if white supremacy (white racist propaganda) and white people invading and enslaving damn near EVERY culture they came across had nothing to do with the racial issues we still have today? Obviously, you aren't even American, or you wouldn't be talking the bull**** you're talking. Keep ignoring and staying in *beep* denial about how white people using (and still do, in some ways) racism to justify treating black people and other people like s*** and to discriminate against them whenever they can get away with it. Hell, you sounds like a damn apologist for white racism, as if you're saying that all the s*** black people were put through here in the U.S> for its frist 350 years dosne't matter. Well, it *beep* matters to us because it's OUR history, gotdammit! I don't know what la-la land you live the hell in, but I'm tired of stupid, uninformed racist idiots like you who always try and come back with this bull**** claim of "African American racist propaganda"--get the *beep* out of here with that bull****, for real! You don't get to tell me or any other black American how the *beep* we should and should not feel about the racism we're ALWAYS had to deal with from day one in America. So until you do some research on OUR history, just shut the *beep* up. You also make it sound like since all those other things you mentioned went on,that "slavery" or the 100 years of having no rights/being lynched if you did fight for them? Do some research,please, and until then, just shut the *beep* up, because you haven't got ONE damn clue about race in the U.S.

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You're 100% right.

Laurie Mann
http://www.dpsinfo.com

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Even Chris O'Dowd thinks it's a disgrace.

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http://www.smh.com.au/comment/sapphires-cover-is-not-racist-just-smart -20130805-2ra2o.html

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[deleted]

I think they're not ugly at all. But even if they were ugly, that's not a reason to put them in the back. They are the protagonists, they should be in the centre of attention. You don't have to be attractive to be a good actor. Many of the most celebrated actors/actresses are not considered to be the most beautiful. It's not a beauty competition, the only thing that matters is talent.

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Only small-minded boys would call those wonderful, talented women ugly.


Laurie Mann
http://www.dpsinfo.com

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Are you saying that you don't look like a rhino's ass? Somehow I doubt that.

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I totally agree. People can say whatever they want and try to rationalize it somehow, but in my opinion it IS racist and outrageously unfair.

Edit...
Maybe my expectations are too high, but I didn't like that they added Dave to the story, who didn't exist in real life. I like Chris O'Dowd as well as his character, but they make it look like the girls needed the help of a white male to become successful.

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Seriously pathetic. Who gives a rats arse what color of skin they have - only a racist would call foul and comment about something so ridiculously silly - and anyway, the guy is standing just a few inches in front of the girls.. GET OVER IT!!

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You may be thinking of another cover. This is the one people are complaining about:

http://resources0.news.com.au/images/2013/08/06/1226689/781672-chris-o-amp-039-dowd.jpg

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I don't think it's that hard to believe that they wanted to have the most well known actor as the focal point of the picture. A lot of people are probably going to see the film because they are fans of Chris O’Dowd... he's the major selling point and the only recognizable person in the film. I mean, if I saw the DVD for sale with the new cover I'd just think, "Oh, a Dreamgirls ripoff..." but if I saw it with the original cover I'd think, "Oh, the funny guy from the IT Crowd! I want to see that film!"

It's not racist or sexist. If Beyonce or Rihanna were in it I'm sure they'd be front and centre.
And the argument about them trying to mask the girls' skin colour by making them blue is just plain stupid. The film is called 'The Sapphires'... the girls are called The Sapphires.... Sapphires are blue and shiny.... so they made the girls look blue and shiny and they fill up 70% of the picture. It's artistic, not racist and a lot of people probably lost their jobs because of this stupid, attention-seeking stunt. Let the artists do their jobs, people.

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[deleted]