There is just årviss tradition as to clean away the christmas tree and order the first utepilsen. In the weeks after that the Oscar nominations have been announced, occurs always a discussion about which of the films that didn’t deserve the recognition. In the years, consensus gathered around the “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Green Book”. Both have alert reactions, which have increased in desibelstyrke after that both films were Oscar-nominated in the important categories. Interestingly enough, it would both probably have been seen as progressive and important fifteen years ago.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” is a biopic about Freddie Mercury. The film has been a huge success, but many believe the underspiller the gay Mercurys sexual and romantic stories with other men. That director Bryan Singer is Hollywood’s latest #metoo-fall, after years of rumors about the exploitation of young men, does not help.
Also the “Green Book” is based on a true story, about an Italian-american from the white working class as was the driver of a black concert pianist in the sixties, and about the friendship that arose between them. In the case of the “Green Book” has objections has been that it is an easy feelgoodfilm, a “Todd and Copper”-history that makes racism to a simple question that can be solved by spending a little time together and give each other a hug.
It is not a long time ago it would have been crazy with a classic, large-scale biopic with a flamboyant gay man as the main character. The story of white and black salvation and atonement in your privacy is more conventional, but in a time where events such as the killing of an anti racist protester in Charlottesville can happen, does not seem to create a widely accessible and clearly antiracist film to be something big breaches.
It does not that a progressive filmpublikum just to sit with your hands in your lap and be grateful for what they get. There is a long tradition in Hollywood to make films where a complicated white protagonist meet and are transformed by the encounter with a black man or woman, for the occasion the uncomplicated, aseksuell and noble. It is clear like that experienced as condescending, and there is a certain aroma of this gammelmodigheten of the “Green Book”.
There is also true that storsatsingene from filmbyen rarely portrays gay romance as attributable as heterosexual romance, and that Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody” is depicted as more captivated by the ekskjæresten Mary than of the men with whom he later involves himself with. It is completely appropriate to point to this.
But fierce contempt that meets the movies in some comments and critiques still not deserved. It is, after all, to talk about films that celebrates the two charismatic artists that belong to each minority. They are godlynte, family-friendly movies as it should be place in a broad alliance against various prejudices. It should be possible both to point out the blind spots and make sure that there to support a good cause in the wrong way is not a crime. It is a linedans, but not an overly difficult one.