WELLINGTON – The movie aimed to cover the 2019 Christchurch mosque terror attacks has come under fire for focusing on PM Jacinda Ardern’s response to the Islamophobic attack instead of the victims who lost their lives.
US-based Production Company FilmNation Entertainment is courting controversy for sidelining Muslim victims. Reports in international media suggest that the movie mainly focuses on the New Zealand Labour Party leader and how people rallied behind her to ban the deadliest types of weapons.
Meanwhile, the 40th prime minister of the island country has also distanced herself from They are Us. A statement via a spokesperson of Jacinda stated ‘the prime minister and the government have no involvement in the film’.
The public outcry stemmed due to a number of motives. Another key factor that sparked public ire is raking in the dough- to profit from the suffering of those who are still recovering or grieving.
Let it be known that the title of the movie comes from the words of Jecina Ardern who earlier used the expression ‘They are Us’ soon after the attacks.
Meanwhile, the Australian actor Rose Byrne is set to play the protagonist role as Jacinda Ardern. The movie aimed to highlight the grieved families emphasized the story of Ardern’s leadership against the backdrop of the genocide of 51 Muslims by a white supremacist which is said as ‘exploitative, insensitive, and obscene’.
A large number of people who are well aware of the actual incident termed the project completely ‘insensitive’. Many even suggest that the Production Company should have consulted with some members of the Muslim community.
Those injured and bereaved by the heinous attacks face ongoing financial stress, lifelong physical issues, and mental trauma, and have called for a better response from authorities.
On the other hand, the Hollywood Reporter cited that the film which tells ‘the story of New Zealand premier should be launched with the consultation with several members of the affected mosque’.
Many New Zealanders also lambasted those behind the project for turning the Islamophobic attacks into a white saviour narrative as the pain is still fresh.
Meanwhile, a petition with more than 30,000 signatures has been launched to shut down the movie as it does not depict the lived experiences of the victims or the Muslim community. ‘It is not appropriate for filmmakers to cover something which they don’t face just to profit off a story’, the petition reads.
Christchurch mosque shootings
The mass shooting attacks on two Christchurch mosques left at least 51 dead, with one terrorist apparently live streaming the assault.
A white terrorist Brenton Tarrant, 29, killed 51 innocent Muslims at two mosques in New Zealand. He is currently serving life in prison without parole – the first person in the country’s history to receive the sentence. His sentencing also marks the first terrorism conviction in New Zealand’s history.
