Controversy over Jewish-Israili actress playing Virgin Mary

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16 Nov 2024, 12:02 am

Honey69 wrote:

There has also been some controversy about straight actors playing gay characters, when gay actors have been playing straight characters since forever. You're just acting.

An actor's personal background does affect how much and what kind of insight the actor has into the role. This is especially true for marginalized groups whose perspectives are not well-understood by mainstream folks.

Also, in the case of Palestinians in particular, mass media representation may well be a matter of life and death. Given the U.S.A.'s celebrity-obsessed culture, the casting of Palestinian actors in appropriate sympathetic roles might be just the thing that could spur many Americans to start seeing Palestinians as human and, therefore, start feeling at least a little bit bothered by the mass slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza.

Anyhow, regardless of how you personally feel about Biblical epics, there are lots of people who do watch them.

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16 Nov 2024, 12:59 am

Mona Pereth wrote:

Found some other recent news stories about this controversy:

- Controversy surrounds ‘Mary’ Netflix film with criticism of Palestinian 'erasure', The New Arab, 15 November, 2024: "A new Netflix film about Mary, mother of Jesus, has cast Israeli actors while ignoring Palestinians, sparking anger and calls for a boycott."
- Mary: Netflix faces backlash for casting Israeli actors in lead roles in upcoming biblical film, Middle East Eye, 14 November 2024: "Social media users have called for a Netflix boycott, with many accusing the platform of erasing the characters' Palestinian roots with the decision to cast Israelis."

This controversy appears to be part of a larger trend of concern about Palestinian 'erasure' in Western pop culture. The Middle East Eye page has a link to a story about another similar controversy here, plus a story about another related theme here.

One of the articles quoted a person from CODEPINK an American founded advocacy group. Otherwise the background of these social media critics remains unknown. I also noticed that so far there has been no criticism about Anthony Hopkins an actual European playing King Herald. So far are the key words. Let’s see if people actually start canceling their Netflix subscription, if Palestinian Christian or Christians of Palestinian background picketing Netflix Headquarters, if Palestinian Christian clergy and church leaders speak out.

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18 Nov 2024, 7:06 pm

ASPartOfMe wrote:

King Herod is a relatively minor character. I would expect people to be more concerned about the casting of the main characters and especially the Holy Family.

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19 Nov 2024, 5:32 am

Mona Pereth wrote:

ASPartOfMe wrote:

King Herod is a relatively minor character. I would expect people to be more concerned about the casting of the main characters and especially the Holy Family.

True, but I would have thought that Anthony Hopkins probably more well known then all the other actors combined would attract attention.

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Yesterday, 10:44 am

The movie appears to be causing controversy

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/why ... 12328.html

Quote:

...Religious scholars have had mixed reactions to “Mary,” as they debate perceived inaccuracies in the portrayal.

Christy Cobb, a assistant professor of Christianity in the department of religious studies at the University of Denver, says the field of Biblical studies has been alight with discussions about the film. She first heard about “Mary” through a post on Facebook — “a rant post,” she says.

“Biblical scholars are hearing about these movies, and then we get excited, and then when we watch it, we’re like, ‘Oh, this isn’t depicting Biblical stories as accurately or historical moments as accurately as we hope that they would be,’” she says...

It is just a movie, after all.

Quote:

...Filmmakers took creative liberties with Mary's depiction, Cobb says. Cobb appreciated that the film's Mary is more “fiery and rebellious” than commonly depicted. “I like that we’re depicting Mary as this full character with some agency, courage and her fears at the surface,” she says....

The Bible, as I recall, depicts Mary as rather a simpleton.

Quote:

...The movie places modern conservative family values onto the Holy Family in a way that is “not supported by the text” or by historical context, Cobb, who is working on a book about early Christian families, says....

That is precisely my objection to Biblical dress-up epics.

They are usually as trite and boring as Hell.

But, Anthony Hopkins is in it, so it might be worth a watch.

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Yesterday, 1:08 pm

Honey69 wrote:

It is just a movie, after all.

Exactly. I approve of criticising films, but in most cases, including this one, I find the anger hard to understand. Religion can bring out the worst in people, which is something of a paradox.

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Today, 10:16 am

Mona Pereth wrote:

Possibly, but were talking about someone who lived over 2,000 years ago. Probably no modern human would have better insight into Mary than anyone else.

Mona Pereth wrote:

Also, in the case of Palestinians in particular, mass media representation may well be a matter of life and death. Given the U.S.A.'s celebrity-obsessed culture, the casting of Palestinian actors in appropriate sympathetic roles might be just the thing that could spur many Americans to start seeing Palestinians as human and, therefore, start feeling at least a little bit bothered by the mass slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza.

Mary was a Jewish Galilean. It would be good if more Americans were bothered by the mass slaughter in Gaza. There have been a few movies that featured Palestinians--I haven't watched them yet.

Mona Pereth wrote:

Anyhow, regardless of how you personally feel about Biblical epics, there are lots of people who do watch them.

Most of the people watching them are seriously looking forward to Jesus' imminent return on a Cloud of Glory. If a movie deviates from this slant, then this crowd will boycott it. If they protest enough, then other people might be curious enough to watch it.

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