New White savior complex movie with Reese Witherspoon

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It does seem to be more about Reese Witherspoon than the refugees. Erin Brokovitch was more about her character than the town people with cancer (or whatever it was).

Well, it's a big Hollywood movie, not a documentary. It's made to entertain and make money. If you want harsh reality, look elsewhere. No one is forcing you or OP to go see it, are they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It does seem to be more about Reese Witherspoon than the refugees. Erin Brokovitch was more about her character than the town people with cancer (or whatever it was).

It's a trailer. People are more likely to see a movie with Reese Witherspoon in it than three unknown actors and Corey Stoll. They may come away with something different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I hadn't heard of it before. As a white person, I see it as a movie about three brave refugees coming here to an entirely new culture. A white woman is just the person that happens to be helping them.

Same. I'm open to hearing why my view is clouded.

NP. Most movies about black people involve a white person in the starring role, helping them. Sandra Bullock is also usually involved. It's tired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It does seem to be more about Reese Witherspoon than the refugees. Erin Brokovitch was more about her character than the town people with cancer (or whatever it was).

Well, it's a big Hollywood movie, not a documentary. It's made to entertain and make money. If you want harsh reality, look elsewhere. No one is forcing you or OP to go see it, are they?

Personally, I have no problem with the choice of storytelling. I think it looks interesting and I'll look for it on DVD (not worth the hassle of a babysitter to see it in the theater). But I'm white, so maybe I'm the wrong one to answer.

The story from the boys' perspective would be interesting too. There have been quite a few books written by and about the Lost Boys of Sudan. I'll read some of those too.

[Anonymous]

Ah, the Nice White Lady cinematic solution to societal problems. Yay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ah, the Nice White Lady cinematic solution to societal problems. Yay.

+1

[Anonymous]

A few disjointed thoughts:

1) I went to the trailer preparing to hate the white-person-as-savior thing but ended up liking the sounds of the movie more than I thought;
2) I disagree that you need "big name" stars to get the viewers; I hate it when there is a big name in a movie b/c the entire time I just think, "Oh, there's Reese Witherspoon/Tom Hanks/Tom Cruise pretending to be a ____," instead of immersing myself in the story;
3) Reese W. and her chin look a lot more WT than she normally does with brown hair!
4) As someone who is dealing with immigration right now to bring over an adopted child, it makes me scoff and LOL to see her act like a raving lunatic, shouting, "Who do I have to screw around here to see an immigration supervisor?" in an immigration office. Yeah, right!

[Anonymous]

Maybe when African politicans and governments get their shit togther they wont need outside help anymore, not from white, purple, blue or black folks. The truth is that they often do need help from outsiders, the Ebola outbreak is a prime example.

These situations often lead to good stories that writers and Hollywood capiltalize on. If these events weren't happening, there wouldnt be movies and books about them.

Besides, if I need help that desperately, I damn well wouldnt care what the person who helped me looked like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting. I hadn't heard of it before. As a white person, I see it as a movie about three brave refugees coming here to an entirely new culture. A white woman is just the person that happens to be helping them.

Same. I'm open to hearing why my view is clouded.

NP. Most movies about black people involve a white person in the starring role, helping them. Sandra Bullock is also usually involved. It's tired.

What has she made in this genre other than The Blind Side?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe when African politicans and governments get their shit togther they wont need outside help anymore, not from white, purple, blue or black folks. The truth is that they often do need help from outsiders, the Ebola outbreak is a prime example.

These situations often lead to good stories that writers and Hollywood capiltalize on. If these events weren't happening, there wouldnt be movies and books about them.

Besides, if I need help that desperately, I damn well wouldnt care what the person who helped me looked like.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Besides, if I need help that desperately, I damn well wouldnt care what the person who helped me looked like.

Let me guess: You like to call yourself "color blind."

http://snarkysmachine.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/nice-white-lady-of-the-week%E2%84%A2/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe when African politicans and governments get their shit togther they wont need outside help anymore, not from white, purple, blue or black folks. The truth is that they often do need help from outsiders, the Ebola outbreak is a prime example.

These situations often lead to good stories that writers and Hollywood capiltalize on. If these events weren't happening, there wouldnt be movies and books about them.

Besides, if I need help that desperately, I damn well wouldnt care what the person who helped me looked like.

+1

What da fug?

[Anonymous]

Until the Story of the hunt is told by the Lion, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter. – African Proverb -

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Until the Story of the hunt is told by the Lion, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter. – African Proverb -

[b]=1

[Anonymous]

Dr. Paul farmer has done everything humanly possible to cure disease and bring health care to Haiti, but it is as bad there as it was when he started.
Many of these efforts are futile. But God bless them for trying.