Over the fact the the character Vikander is playing is black. Just another role meant for a black actress taken by a white one.
Really? I didn't know her role was black. But Hollywood washing out characters isn't news to anyone to be honest.
shareYes the character is half black. It isn't surprising Hollywood whitewashing is no surprise. Look at the OSCARs this year.
shareBut it is disappointing that just because Vikander is an in demand actress at the moment she was given this role that should have been given to a black actress.
shareThere is no indication whatsoever in the book that Dani is black.
From the book: "in her complexion and variety of dress and habits and manners there was something of her mother's Creole background".
Her father is Australian, her mother from Martinique. There's "something" of the mother - we don't even know if her mother is black.
My first choice for Dani's role would be Gugu Mbatha-Raw. I don't care that much for Alicia. But I wouldn't convict the film based on whitewashing, if in the book it isn't clearly stated Dani is black.
From the book: "in her complexion and variety of dress and habits and manners there was something of her mother's Creole background".
Martinique, a rugged Caribbean island that?s part of the Lesser Antilles and an overseas region of France, reflects a distinctive blend of French and West Indian cultures. Its largest town, Fort-de-France, features steep hills, narrow streets and La Savane, a garden bordered by shops and cafes, with a statue of island native Joséphine de Beauharnais, first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, at its center.
Traditionally people from the Caribbean are darker skinned. But as I said in a previous post white washing I'm Hollywood is nothing new.
Furthermore a quick Google image search for "people of martinique" you will see mostly people of color. Vikander is a good actress, I simply find it upsetting, all be it not surprising, that a character that is intended to be a person of color isn't casted as such.
shareWell, alicia Vikander could pass as mixed-race, and the description in the book is sufficiently vague to make her plaisible in this role.
Even if, yes, it could have been an opportunity to cast an actress of color in this role...
Because, yes, there are white people in Martinique, but most of them are black, or at least mixed-race, of black descent. They're the descendents of the african slaves that were sent there by the french to work in sugar cane fields.
In France, when we hear about someone from La Martinique, we immediatly picture them as being black. Especially when mentionning colorful clothes, which are typical (and gorgeous).
You can try to type "vetements creoles" on google image to see what I mean.
Thanks for the info!
shareWhat kind of sophomoric rhetoric is this? If you're black you're upset. If you're white you're happy. Follow Alicia Vikander's career, or follow a black actress portraying this character. A black director would most likely cast black actors and make a film that appeals to them in kind. It's not a matter of racism, but a matter of taste, preference.
shareThe fact is the way the character is described implying that she is mixed race. Casting a white actress for that role is another example of Hollywood's white washing. And why would you say a black director would cast black actors I find that statement rather racist. And who says directors even have final say in who's cast? When it comes down to the the person who is paying to get a film made (i.e. producers) will have final say in who will be cast. Since Vikander is "Hollywood's it girl" at the moment she got the role over an actress of color
shareFound this demographic breakdown of Martinique on several websites:
African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, Indian Tamil or East Indian, Chinese less than 5%.
In my opinion that child doesn't look like her and yes she has a darker complexion then most Swedes but she definitely doesn't look mixed race as your statistics show most of the people of Martinique are. I do agree Alicia is a great actress but there is no reason this part couldn't go to an actress of color.
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I am trying to have an intelligent conversation here about whitewashing in Hollywood. I didn't say racist in any of my posts and I take offence to your saying I am a racist. First of all I am a random person on the internet that you know nothing about. You have no indication of my race, gender, sexual identity etc. So who are you to call me racist when you know nothing about me? I could assume many things about you but I don't make assumptions about people I have never and likely will never meet.
shareOK, Junior:
I find that statement rather racist.
Fine I stand corrected. But I did not say you were a racist I said you made a racist comment. And now I am going to make an assumption about you. I think you are an Alicia Vikander stan who is trying to distract from the discussion I'm attempting which is Hollywood whitewashing. Now how does it feel to have someone make an assumption about you? Not very good right? Honestly I don't know why are bothering I find once someone has made up their mind about another person it's very hard to convince them otherwise. So you can assume I'm a racist (which by the way makes no sense because I'm arguing against whitewashing in Hollywood but okay) and I'll assume you are a Vikander stan. Honestly I'm a fan of her work but when I see her fans attacking people who are simply trying to have an intelligent conversation it makes me sad to be a fan of hers.
The problem with everyone's claim of "whitewashing" this role is that Vikander is not your typical Caucasian person. She is much darker in skin tone she is not white, id be happy to have had a black person in the role, but to say that the role has to be fulfilled by a person of color is a bit hypocritical. Not every role can be fulfilled by a black actress, not every role is meant for a white actor, but calling out whitewashing everytime something like this happens is getting old. Also the Oscars picked very good nominations this year, it's not racist to pick good performances, very little was given to us quality wise from black actors at least in my opinion. If people want more people of color in these events get rid of BET stop casting black people in ONLY comedic and crappy movies. Samuel L Jackson and Will Smith are good, but perhaps more black people should be getting into the acting game.
shareThe flourishing midsize movie market with this kind of movie is just not there anymore. This will be a hard sell.
You need names and there are not many well know "stars" with mixed skins who could take on such a role and are sellable. Vikander/McAvoy have at at least some star power.
Yes, that's a problem of western film as a whole, but production to production, nobody is "responsible" to build up a slate of mixed skin stars and superstars.
In an industry where even a hunks like Chris Helmsworth can't "sell" a movie, its really hard to put a "No Name" there. This is independently produced, this is not from a studio.
If we want to push unknowns, we as an culture, should go and see movies with fresh new actors. We have to create demand, not the other way around.
please *beep* off with your racist *beep* People change source material all the time and no one bats an eye, but change skin color and you create WWIII, go spread your hate somewhere else.
Life is what happens to you while your busy making other plans....
Why don't you spend your hate somewhere else. I say again whitewashing in Hollywood is a valid issue I'm trying to discuss. I have no problem with Vikander as an actress but I believe the role should have gone to an actress of color. It appears the only people upset by the conversation are her fans who assume I am insulting their precious idol. I am not I like her as an actress but this isn't a role for her.
shareI don't mean to interrupt this pointless cybernetic argument, but I'd like to add the small detail that this is not a "Hollywood-film". Good luck fighting them windmills. They might be giants, after all.
shareIf you don't mean to interrupt why comment? It stars 2 A list actors, it's already sold in 30 territories, and has an estimated budget of 15,000,000 but that's not a Hollywood film right. And what does your comment add to this discussion anyway? I will reply to every single post until someone actually has something intellectual to add to the conversation.
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Everything you're upset about makes me complacent. Worlds apart...
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