Is There Any Need To Make Such Films?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2415405/12-Years-Slave-Audiences-gasp-walk-Oscar-tipped-film-giving-ovation.html

We all know that such things happened during the times of slavery, but should such graphic films be made, as I am sure they do nothing to foster good race relations?

There were also many horrific things carried out by black persons against the whites in past times, but could anyone envisage a film showing such happenings ever being made as well as directed by a white person?

[sp1814]

AOG

Do you think that it was a mistake for 'Lincoln' to have been made?

What about Django Unchained, Rabbit Proof Fence, The Help, City Of God, Sophie' Choice, The Reader, American History X, Black Book...there are so many wonderful films which deal with racial injustice - the world didn't tip off its axis upon their release.

Would you similarly argue that WWII films should be banned?

[bazwillrun]

"A film which is already garnering praise from critics? "

like that means anything...a bunch of leftie luvvies

[sp1814]

"but could anyone envisage a film showing such happenings ever being made as well as directed by a white person?"

AOG - I assume you don't go to the cinema much, but for heaven's sake...

Django Unchained

Directed by Quentin Tarantino.

Massive film lat year.

Nominated for all sorts of awards.

Didn't you hear of it?

[emmie]

the type of violence in some films now is so graphic i wonder it gets through the censor, however some is warranted, how else can you portray things as they were unless you show the hangings, lynching, floggings, its not comfortable watching, that is the point.

[Octavius]

I remember in my youth that BBC2 teatime was filled with them 1960s Tarzan films that showed the intrepid white hunter / explorer being interrupted during hunting in the jungle by half naked black men in leopard skin speedos spearing the whities or putting them in their cooking pots. It made me quite frightful of black men in speedos for quite some time. My sister was strangely draw in though with an almost hypnotic gaze....

[andy-hughes]

emmie - i think there is a cut-off point in terms of portraying violence accurately - and in context.

Portraying floggings and hangings in a film like '12 Years' potentially can be justified in terms of dramatic force and accuracy in a way that cutting somone's face off in 'Sasher Maniac Hits Miami 37' cannot.

It is a matter of subject, audience, and the film maker's aim and message which obviously varies from making a social document as a social point, and making a load of cinematic garbage to make money.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

Not saying any of that SP, I am just getting rather sick of the one sided attitude that is forever making the white man the villain of the piece.

Yet when anything slightly criticising or showing black persons in a bad light, all hell is let loose.

You know me forever after that level playing field, which unfortunately always seems to tilt one way.

[emmie]

i sat through Robocop, that was a) gratuitous, b) garbage, C) worse film i have ever seen. I did so because of the person i was with, not a boyfriend, but nevertheless i now choose my viewing with extreme care.
I found some films so harrowing in their depiction of rape and can't watch, and women are often the victims in these slasher/horror films.

[sp1814]

"but could anyone envisage a film showing such happenings ever being made as well as directed by a white person?"

Zulu
Black Hawk Down
Captain Philips
Pulp Fiction

The problem any film-maker will have is that they wouldn't necessarily start from your thought process of "What stories specifically reflect a story where whites have been treated badly by blacks".

Outside a war scenario, I can't really think of anything...of course, there have been a few excellent films with black lead characters who were evil (Last King of Scotland for instance), but to sit around trying to work out which stories would fit a particular agenda like that would be weird.

Hollywood is in the US, and the US is particularly inward-looking when it comes to historical drama. Slavery is a huge part of American history.

What stories do you think they should focus on? You know...the ones you alluded to, where blacks treat (or have treated) whites 'badly'.

Incidentally, loving the use of the word 'badly' to describe enslaving people.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

/// Would you similarly argue that WWII films should be banned? ///

Have you not noticed that not only are they becoming less popular, but those that are made generally show the German point of view.

[sp1814]

AOG

It's a film about slavery.

What were they supposed to do? Make it look like 'Song Of The South'??

We've had this discussion before, and I pointed out to you that there are plenty of big films and tv series where the black guy is the villain.

You hadn't even heard of The Wire, which meant at that point I gave up.

[sp1814]

Less popular?

You mean like the massive Quentin Tarantino film, Inglorious Basterds?

Or Downfall?

Or Black Book?

Or Life Is Beautiful?

Or The Pianist?

I might have these names at my fingertips because I go to the cinema a lot...but really c'mon!!!!

[sp1814]

"There were also many horrific things carried out by black persons against the whites in past times"

AOG - please list five events, and we'll see what imDB lists.

[AB Editor]

Will you go see the Film AOG?

[ChillDoubt]

Can I nominate this for silliest/most innane OP of the week?

Though it's only Monday it's a clear winner.

[emmie]

i won't, but that is because i knew pretty well the storyline, and the events of those times, and if anyone thinks it's over, think again, slavery may have been abolished, but the prejudice lives on. I saw such poverty in the USA i can truly say i was shocked out my socks.