Netflix returns to the center of the controversy. As has already happened in the past, the controversies concern particularly controversial castings and children of that phenomenon that is defined race-swapping, or when you choose to change the race of the characters of a film or series. In some cases this shouldn’t cause a stir, because it’s irrelevant for the purposes of the plot or historical veracity (as for example in Bridgerton), in others the question is more delicate, as it demonstrates the case Queen Cleopatra.
The docu-series is produced by Jada Pinkett Smith, also narrator, and the first trailer released in recent days has raised a new nest of criticisms and controversies. The reason is simple: the Egyptian Queen is played by Adele James, a black actress. In itself this is not a sensational starting error, because the question of the ethnicity of the famous Cleopatra is still much debated in the academic environment.
Part of the reason is precisely in the cut chosen by the Netflix production, which aims to go beyond the mythical figure of the lover of Julius Caesar and Mark Antonyalready told for example in the 1963 film da Joseph L. Mankiewicz with Liz Taylor And Richard Burton. For example, the testimony of an expert is hosted who claims: «My mother always said: don’t pay attention to what they tell you at school. Cleopatra was black».
Words that have caused a lot of uproar, not only on the net but also in numerous newspapers close to the Arab, Egyptian and Greek world. As reported by numerous sources, the archaeologist Zahi Hawass spoke out harshly against the theory and representation of Queen Cleopatradefining it bluntly a falsification of facts. The Egyptologist is among those who support a different thesis, taken up by The Greek Timesor that the Queen had Greek origins and for this reason points the finger at the docu-series for having promoted Afro-centrisman ideology that promotes the idea that the pharaohs and ancient Egyptians were black and that the Egyptians would have usurped their identity.
On the net, many users have expressed dissent through irony or more serious disputes. Some say that “this is not the black representation we want or need», others point out that «it’s how to do it a show about colonized India and do play King George to an Indian». On TikTok, a user also pointed out that «every time something like this happens, we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to talk about a black history based on real black history».
A petition has also been launched on change.orglater removed, which asked for the cancellation of the documentary. Queen Cleopatra however it is part of a large project in which Jada Pinkett Smith is directly involved, a cycle of documentaries on African Queens. «We don’t often see or hear stories of black queens, so it’s very important for me, as well as my daughter and my community, to get to know them because there are so many.» he declared, as reported by numerous sources.
In production, we recall, there is also a film starring Gal Gadot in the role of the famous historical figure. There release date of the four episodes of the docu-series instead is fixed at May 10, 2023.
Photo: Netflix
Source: ArabNews
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